It’s Sunday afternoon but I am in the
office, sitting in a huddle as we discussed the reports coming from the
ground. Rapid assessment
teams had been fielded the day after Typhoon Bopha had wreaked havoc on the
various towns in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental – New Bataan, Compostela,
Laak, Baganga, Boston and Cateel the most affected.
We sat there as reports are being relayed
to us. Most of what was
said, we’ve already read on the online reports and seen on television. However, when the discussion moved on
to the affected livelihoods, my interest got peaked and I’m pretty sure, for a
lot of us in the room as well.
Ours is an organization that had been
working on securing sustainable livelihoods for the various communities we are
working with, for the smallholders (farmers with small assets, small
landholdings) particularly. And hearing something like this is very much up our
alley.
It was noted that in the case of Laak, a
small, remote town in the province of Compostela Valley, Bapho happened right
when the farmers in the area are gearing up for harvest season. Mindanews reported that Bopha (Pablo)
wreaked 2000 has. of rice fields (http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2012/12/09/rice-shortage-looms-in-comvals-remote-laak-town/). With
the amount of mud that covered the rice fields, it would take at least six
months to have them rehabilitated. Banana,
rubber and coconut trees got felled as well, leaving locals wondering how they
can rebuild their lives when even their source of income is devastated by the
typhoon.
When we see the news on television, it’s
easy to see that their immediate needs are that of shelter, food and water and
quite so. Even my heart
bleeds at the thought of the elderly, small children, and the weak, all those
who are most vulnerable, who had to make do with makeshift tents to protect
them from the elements. Translate
that to: extreme heat during the day and then extreme cold in the
evenings. What happens when
it rains? They had to
huddle close together, try their best to stay dry as they shiver not just from
the cold but also out of fear as they relive the moments when they had lost
everything to the strong wind and rain. Yes,
EVERYTHING. How can you
deal with that?
I sit hungry, remembering I had forgone
breakfast to take the kiddos to school and to make it to the office early in
order to tackle the urgent matters waiting for me there. At the same time I’m wondering, how
many children out there have been hungry since last week, their food rations
barely enough to feed all the members of the family? For sure, a lot of mothers out there
are hungry, giving up their share for the little ones and the other members of
the brood.
But all of these would even be a lot worse
with those affected looking at an immediate future with no crops and harvests
to look forward to. If
we’re looking at, at least six months to have the fields rehabilitated, plus
re-planting and waiting for an entire cropping cycle, then we’re looking at
great number of people getting hungry (and desperate) within a year from now if
things will not be handled
well. There is a need to
look at addressing not only the immediate but also the medium and long-term
needs of these people.
Now is not the time to dilly-dally. Woe to the local officials who are
looking at how they can best “milk” the situation to position themselves better
for the upcoming elections. Shame
on those who are taking advantage of the situation for their own gains. What goes around, comes around. And I’m not sure how they’d handle it
if they’d find themselves at the bottom’s end of life’s “gulong ng palad.”
Here’s praying for healing and the speedy
recovery of the persons, families, and communities affected by Typhoon
Pablo. I’m appealing to the
universe to arrange things accordingly in that good will, efforts and resources
will be maximized and put to the “most good” use – really meeting the needs of
these people and equipping them with everything they need to rebuild their
lives anew.
Sending out good vibes, good energies to
all those working on the ground. A
lot of my colleagues are on the field, doing further assessments and setting up
systems that would enable a smooth, well-intentioned, and well-coordinated
response that we have been mounting, beginning yesterday. NFIs (non-food items) and other
supplies are coming in, volunteers are being fielded, systems taking shape… so
help us, God. Let us be
your heart, hands and feet…
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