01/06/2022
Sogod, a small urban town in Southern Leyte, Philippines is currently under a state of calamity as it took a massive hit from super typhoon Odette last December 16, 2021. Internationally named as Typhoon Rai, Typhoon Odette was initially thought to be a low intensity Category 1-equivalent typhoon, but unexpectedly & rapidly intensified to a Category 5 super typhoon as it landed.
This relentless storm lasted for several days and left a trail of mass destruction brought about by its catastrophic winds, torrential rains, & tidal storm surges that reached at least 5 meters high. It inevitably uprooted trees, power lines, taken outhouses, stores, other structures, establishments, and caused extensive damages particularly to houses in coastal and upland areas. An estimated 4,000 homes were battered, rendering thousands of families homeless during the holiday season with some casualties recorded.
Even the thousands of residents who were preemptively evacuated were not spared as Odette ripped the roofs of the gymnasiums that served as temporary shelters and left the people drenched.
The devastation brought about by left the locals with insufficient resources, bereft of their livelihood, and unable to generate income at the moment. The community relies on the sale of fruits and vegetables to sustain them, but farms have been wiped out. Even the fishermen in this coastal town are left with their boats missing or completely destroyed by the raging waters.
Relief help has been coming in some parts of the province, but Sogod is rarely reached. The food packs the survivors have received will only last a few days for the thousands of displaced families. The locals fall in long lines for their ration of potable water where available. They are still without electricity and has intermittent phone signals & internet services.
A local NGO is willing to distribute the funds we collect here to the community. Anything helps, no amount is too small. A dollar is equivalent to around 50 Philippine pesos ($1.00 = Php50.00) and can be used to buy a jug of drinking water which will sustain a family for a day or two. Let us collectively help these dispersed families in need, allow us to be the bridge that will let you extend aid to the victims to help them as they dust themselves off, pick up the pieces and rebuild their homes and community until they get back on their feet and thrive again.
Sogod, a small urban town in Southern Leyte, Philippines is currently … EMELYN MURILLO needs your support for hit Sogod, Southern Leyte, Philippines
