Typhoon Sendong (WASHI) - One week after.

My reflection from Sendong (Typhoon Washi) tragedy

_{^{by Crislyn Felisilda, Field Communications Mindanao}}

_{^{EDITOR'S NOTE: As one of the first on the field when Tropical Storm Sendong hit, World Vision Communications Staff (Crislyn Felisilda) shares the pain and hope she witnessed while on the ground assisting the families greatly affected in CDO.}}

Over a week has passed, I feel I’ve had the busiest hours in World Vision after Typhoon Washi struck Northern Mindanao—my home. I knew there was a typhoon coming, and I was even monitoring our areas. But like the weather experts and forecasters, I was stunned to behold the aftermath of Washi’s force and fury. Besides, it struck at the dead of night where many were caught asleep. Alas, I couldn’t believe what I saw. As a humanitarian worker, I knew I should keep going.

Honestly, for more than four years with World Vision, it was the most difficult disaster I’ve encountered so far. It happened at my backyard and put a huge amount of emotional dilemma on me as witness to the tragedy. Although my immediate family was spared from harm, I felt being one of the families who also lost their homes and loved ones. It became quite personal. I have all the reasons to be weak and to become even more passionate to work at the same time.

I thought I’ve seen enough disasters already. But this time, I experienced the rawness of it all. While I was at the disaster site, I experienced the immense pain of loss. I saw a father squatting and cradling his muddied baby, limp and lifeless. There were no tears in his eyes, no words from his lips, but on his mouth was a frozen scream. I also witnessed children crying while searching for their loved ones. They were all wet, weak, and muddied. Other kids just sitting anywhere, silent, staring on blank space from afar, wondering how they managed to survive from the rampaging flood. The most heart-wrenching scene was how the dead bodies were being pulled out one after another from the floodwaters. Yes, I’ve witnessed them all.

Salim’s joyride and new found hope

A day after Christmas, Salim’s face beams with joy as he rides on the grocery cart being pushed by his mother Melanie, 39. The mother and child were among the affected families who received food and non-food relief items through “gift certificates” facilitated by World Vision (WV) in partnership with Robinson's supermarket in Cagayan de Oro. For that moment, six year old Salim could only have fun and a joyride on a shopping cart, gliding along the colorful hallways in the grocery store. But for his mother, he is a boy coping from the tragic calamity that happened in their village a week before.

^{Salim is all smiles as he rides down the grocery aisles excited to purchase his favorite food. World Vision in partnership with Robinson's supermarket were able to provide needs of affected families in CDO.}Send your help now!

The value of life as learned by Mico

In the assessment of the rapid response team in Iligan evacuation centers,
World Vision staff met Mico and was inspired by his heroic feat.

^{by Aaron Aspi, Emergency communications specialist, WV Philippines}

Mico seems like your typical 12-year-old boy. With a pierced left ear, you might even mistake him for a mischief. But as Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong) wreaked havoc one dreadful night in his village in Iligan, Mico was able to muster all his strength in the most difficult time to do something extraordinary --- save his 2-year old cousin from drowning.

“We were surprised to find water inside our house, my mother was crying because my one year old brother was already missing. We all wanted to look for him but instead of swimming aimlessly in the dark my family decided to climb the mango tree in our yard,” Mico shares.

Rewindy's dream house

_{by Mai Zamora, Field Communications Specialist, WV Philippines}

Child Friendly Space (CFS) aims to help the children realize that they have the right to be protected especially in times of disaster. In the second day of CFS that was launched in the hardest hit village of Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro, the kids grouped according to their age and were encouraged to draw an impression of their present or ideal house which symbolize assurance, security and safety for them.

"My dream house is a palace," says 11-year-old Rewindy while describing his drawing. "I want to build a palace because it is safe. The water can’t get through the house," Rewindy shares as she shows his colorful drawing while at the same time looking after his two year old brother.

World Vision introduces health intervention in evacuation centers

^{By Aaron Aspi, Emergency Communications Specialist}

Iligan City, Misamis Oriental --- After being declared under National State of Calamity, looming and widespread devastation remains greatly felt in large portions of Iligan five days after Typhoon Washi struck. Torrential rains unleashed flashfloods and mudslides that hurled massive logs downstream, creating a path of destruction which left structures reduced to ruins. Barinaut bridge was split into half and entire villages near the riverside are wiped-out in Hinaplanon, where once thriving communities are now transformed into a barren wasteland.

Living conditions in evacuation centers are worsening. Garbage are piling up and used water from the laundry and bathing area is under threat of becoming breeding ground for mosquitoes and possible sources of water-borne diseases.
“Educating people on proper waste management would help prevent the spread of diseases in the evacuation centers,” shares Doc Yvonne Duque, World Vision Response point person for health, nutrition and child-well being. Hygiene and sanitation are a growing concern in congested evacuation centers as dwindling supply of water prevents people from prioritizing the upkeep of their immediate surroundings.

Something sweet as Honey

Despite the devastation, life is still sweet for 12-year old Honey, one of the thousands of children displaced by Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong). However, she vividly shares the awful experience, “The water was so high we lost all our things, our clothes, and even our house.”

Honey opened up more, during the launch of the first Child Friendly Space (CFS) installed by World Vision at Macasandig evacuation centre in one of the hardest hit areas in CDO.

“That night, we lost electricity. It was signal number 2. Then the water rose, it kept rising and rising. Our family evacuated to a nearby church but the floodwaters kept rising so we went to a friend’s house but it was also flooded. Then we just ended up here at the evacuation center.”

World Vision launches 1st Child Friendly Space in hard hit CDO

"I pray that we’ll have Noche Buena (Christmas eve dinner) this Christmas.” --Child survivor Richard, 11

Cagayan de Oro, the Philippines, 23 December, 2011--Christian aid agency World Vision says living conditions in evacuation centers set up post Tropical Storm Washi are worsening. Garbage is piling up and dirty water from laundry and bathing areas is fast becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and water-borne diseases. Outside of the centers, the stench coming from waist-deep mud and debris is causing further health concerns.

"Hygiene and sanitation is a growing concern particularly in congested evacuation centres. World Vision is educating people on proper waste management to try and prevent the spread of disease but the dwindling water supply is making the situation even worse," said Dr. Yvonne Duque, the aid agency's health specialist and child well-being manager.

World Vision reaches out to children greatly affected by Sendong flashfloods

Cagayan de Oro City, 22 Dec 2011 – Six days after Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong) brought massive floods in Northern Mindanao, World Vision launches its first Child Friendly Space (CFS) in the evacuation area situated in Macasandig Tennis Court, Cagayan de Oro City.

The CFS, designed as a five-day module, will give the children who experienced distress from the disaster an opportunity and time to play, interact with other children, and be listened to. “This is very timely because Christmas is approaching. We want to give joy and hope to these children,” Dr. Yvonne Duque, World Vision Child well-being manager explains while the kids were singing Christmas songs behind her.

One of the child survivors, 11 year old boy Richard, shares about his fears and tells his story through drawings. “I fear flooding because it took away our house including my school stuffs,” explains Richard. Together with the other children in the school, they sang songs, played with toys, and blew bubbles.

"We're not alone"

_{By: Crislyn Felisilda, Field Communications Specialist in Mindanao, WV Philippines}

As World Vision is steadily reeling its relief efforts to the affected families in Cagayan de Oro after Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong) brought major destruction and loss, Manong Jerry was patiently queuing in line with his claim stubs from World Vision.

“We’re grateful that a lot of people have moved their hearts to extend their resources to the grieving and homeless,” says Manong Jerry, 32, a father of two kids: John Paul, 6 and Cherry, 4. “We never felt that we’re alone,” he added.

When the rampaging waters came to Sitio Ilaya, Puntod last Friday, Jerry, and his wife, Maria and two kids climbed up the roof of their house where they thought— like many of their neighbors— they would be safe. Their house, made of light materials, put up no resistance to the swirling tide and the walls quickly got washed away by raging waters. “Thank God there are a number of mango trees in our village. The families climbed up on the tree for refuge,” Manong Jerry recounts.

^{Manong Jerry is grateful for the relief goods that he received from World Vision. He is thankful that there are people who remembered his family during this time of great need.}Send help now!

Rosemarie's Best Christmas Gift

The holiday star decors (local term parol), Christmas wreaths, and glowing lanterns of various colors, shapes and sizes illuminated the Upper Balulang streets to usher the feeling of the season to at least 300 temporarily sheltered families from the hard-hit village of Puntod.

“I used to feel excited during Christmas because it’s my birthday too but not this year anymore,” Rosemarie regrets after her mom explained that they’ll be celebrating Christmas at the evacuation center.

The Upper Balulang covered court is among the 10 evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro after Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong) displaced more than 30,000 residents in the city. “The flood took away all our belongings, our home,” Rosemarie laments.

Living at the evacuation center gave Rosemarie and other children long sleepless nights. “It’s noisy and we only slept on a hard cardboard. We feel back pains in the morning,” complains Rosemarie.

World Vision provides initial aid to Sendong survivors

World Vision has mobilized response team to carry initial emergency food and nonfood aid to some 243 families in the hardest hit village of Balulang in Cagayan de Oro. Relief aid consists of rice, ready-to-eat food items, canned goods, drinking water, blankets, sugar, choco drinks, sleeping mats, and hygiene kits.

Water and ready-to-eat food are the most urgent needs of families who survived the fury of Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong). Cramped in evacuation centers or camping out in the streets, survivors await rations of food from aid agencies to get by each day. No one expected that just days before Christmas, a horrible tragedy was waiting to happen.

“I will be celebrating my birthday on Christmas day… how I wish we’d have food to eat on that day…” shares 13-year-old Rosemarie whose family was devastated by the storm. Rosemarie and her 5 little siblings survived by climbing on the roof for safety. “Safety is the best Christmas and birthday gift I received”, says the grateful village teener.

Death toll continues to rise and countless more remain missing, after Tropical Storm Sendong hit parts of Mindanao around last week. More than 950 bodies have been retrieved to date.

Nothing more basic than clean water

_{by: Crislyn Felisilda, Field Communications Specialist in Mindanao}

“We can’t get water anywhere. I have four kids and water is a necessity,” 32 year old Shiela regrets. She was anxious about her family joining the thousands of families at City Central School after Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong) brought the most devastation in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City, both situated in Northern Mindanao.

According to the local officials of Cagayan de Oro City, almost 70% of the city has no access to water because major pipelines were rendered useless by the flashfloods. Authorities added that it will take more than a month to fix this problem. “Many families have damaged houses, properties and even lost their loved ones but we must move on,” Maurino Paasa, the village captain of Barangay 13 shares. “What the people need the most is water.”

Families have been receiving initial aid from the local government but they couldn’t cook their food because water is inaccessible and power is still down in some areas. “My three-year old son has been complaining because it’s hot at the evacuation centers and he wants to take a bath. But it’s difficult,” Shiela says.

Clean drinking water remain a challenge. Many stores have doubled up the prices of bottled waters to take advantage of the high demand. “We’re poor plus we are displaced by the flood so we couldn’t provide our needs anymore. We’re only dependent on the food and water ration that are given to us,” she added.

Young Survivors: 10-year old saves sister from ravaging floodwaters

_{By Crislyn Felisilda, Field Communications-Mindanao}

As tropical storm Washi (local name Sendong) hit Northern Mindanao, 10-year old Aiza woke up to the torrential rains and strong winds fearing something bad was going to happen.

At 9:00pm, Aiza along with her grandmother, mother and one-year old sister were already asleep in their small house along the river in Sitio Cala-Cala, Balulang Cagayan de Oro City. Her brother and father were away working as farmers in a nearby town.

At 10:00pm, the water began to rise. Aiza couldn’t see her surroundings as it was dark and the power was cut off. All she heard was children and residents crying out for help. She recounts, “I was holding my sister so tight,” Aiza shares, “Although she couldn’t talk yet but I felt she was so scared.”

As the waters rose and the current gained strength, Aiza was able to find safety by climbing up on the roof of their house, while holding her baby sister. “I didn’t know how I managed to climb up while holding Trixy. It was raining so hard. Trixy was crying and we both felt so cold. But I was praying hard not to let go of my baby sister,” recounts Aiza. “It was a miracle. I didn’t know how it happened.”

_{Aiza is just one among the many children affected by tropical storm Sendong who have lost loved ones including parents. In disasters such as these, children are most vulnerable. World Vision aims to help them through Child Friendly Spaces.} Send your help now!

Thankfully, after two hours, nearby residents began their rescue efforts. “The water current was so strong. I held on to a rope given by other residents whom I didn’t know. We were nearly swept away,” Aiza recounts.

As Aiza reached a safer place with Trixy, she remembered her mother and grandmother. At a distance she saw people and children crying for help and clinging on for their lives. She watched as many houses were submerged. “My Lola is too old and she doesn’t know how to swim,” Aiza says.

World Vision will be reaching out to approximately 10,000 families (50,000 individuals) out of the 22,223 families (119,115 individuals) severely affected by the floods in the hardest hit cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Helping survivors of Typhoon Sendong (Washi)