FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 12, 2013

 

Dear Friends and Allies,

As we receive news and see countless images of the massive destruction brought upon by Super Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda, that hit Central Philippines last November 8, 2013, the Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC) and its member organizations, request for urgent support for all the communities that were ravaged, and are still under the state of calamity.

Reported to be the largest and most powerful storm to ever make landfall in recorded human history, Typhoon Haiyan brought about an estimated 10,000 casualties, and displaced around 615,000 people including an increasing number of people sustaining numerous injuries and illnesses. Struggling from one disaster to another in close succession, the Eastern and Central Visayas region were still recovering from a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit on October 15, 2013 claiming 185 lives, injuring an estimated 600 people and displacing 379,495.

We, at CPFC, send our sincerest condolences to those who have lost their family members, friends, and neighbours from this calamity. We are also saddened by the intensifying plea of people for food, water, clothing, and medicines, as all of the communities’ sources of livelihood were washed away and decimated by the storm surge.

While the number of devastated communities awaiting rescue and relief efforts increase, we extend an appeal to our members, allies, and network, for monetary and non-monetary support, particularly non-perishable food items, and medication. Material donations can be dropped off at the Magkaisa Centre or at the Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance – York University office, second floor of the Student Centre. Cheque donations can be written to the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario (please write “Disaster relief fund” on the memo part of your cheque).

In close coordination with the relief efforts of the Centre for Emergency Aid and Rehabilitation (CONCERN), an organization that has more than twenty-five years of experience operating in the field of disaster-risk and rehabilitation in the Philippines, all collected donations will go towards the Oplan Sagip Bayan operations (Oplan People’s Rescue) in the eastern and central Visayas region.

For more information on the Oplan People’s Rescue please find  in the post below, the letter of appeal for support to the Typhoon Haiyan survivors from the National Secretariat of the Centre for Emergency Aid and Rehabilitation Inc.

Sincerely,

Joy C. Sioson
Chairperson, Philippine Women Centre of Ontario
The Magkaisa Centre
1093 Davenport Rd.
Toronto, ON M6G-2C3
416-519-2553
pwc-on@magkaisacentre.org