Donors of the 48-hour Response Project have sent $2,000 (79,000 pesos) to Cebu this morning, to be spent on water, basic medicine, candles and matchsticks. Here's the breakdown.
3:21pm Sydney, Australia - It is now just after noon in Cebu. Our local contact, Mirella Gallego had earlier received the first round of donations totalling AU$2,000 or 79,000 pesos. This has now been used to buy the following:
50% for bottled water at 10 pesos each
25% for panadol, hydration tabs and antiseptic cream/gel
25% for candles and matchsticks
The shopping list above is based on Mirella's report on what is urgently needed.
We spoke to Sonny Carpio, the Chief Operations Officer of Aboitiz Foundation, the sister arm of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), who informed us two things:
* the places in dire need where they can safely deliver urgent food, water and other basic supplies are Northern Cebu, Ormoc and Southern Leyte
* their latest assessment is that they cannot guarantee the delivery of these urgent aid to Tacloban due to security issues. They are monitoring the situation daily and at best, they will get there in a few days and at worst, in a few weeks (!).
As such, the committee of volunteers have decided that this first round of aid will be distributed in Ormoc and Southern Leyte, where the NGO will be sending relief packs in the next couple of days.
When we get the last round of funds for the 48hr-appeal, we will split the funds into a) goods that will be sent to other parts of Leyte that also need help and b) if the situation calms down by Sunday, the goods will be sent to Tacloban.
Our initial aim was to concentrate all aid to Tacloban but the situation there is making it impossible. However, Yolanda survivors in Cebu, other parts of Leyte and Samar still need our help, hence the distribution of aid as above.
If any of the donors out there reading this have any queries or simply prefer that all their donations just went to Tacloban, please email [email protected] and we can arrange refund.
We thank you for your support! You can still donate or spread the word. We have until 10pm tonight before the 48-hour appeal for $10k ends. http://hopeafterhaiyan.tumblr.com/rapidresponse
Volunteers behind The Filipino-Australian Community Typhoon Appeal: 48-hour response project
Alex, Michelle, Mirella, Rey, Jane, Mari, Mush, Dean, Rosary, Ralk, Ann Margaret, Marcus and Cathy (and more!)
Related article: http://www.australianfilipina.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=38492