The biggest typhoon in a century leaves inexplicably tragic devastation in its wake. The rushing waters of a storm 3.5 times larger than Hurricane Katrina killed an estimated 10,000 on the many islands of the Philippines and those alive are found wondering how to recover from the mass destruction.
Survivors have told horror stories of their children being ripped away by the water, teenagers impaled on poles, and fathers being crushed by falling roofs, while bodies are still being found alongside roads, underneath the rubble of crushed cities.
This disaster will undoubtedly take years to recover from, but immediate relief is more than necessary. Communication across the islands is completely dysfunctional and authorities are struggling to find food, water, and supplies for their starving, injured citizens.
The horrors of this natural disaster only continue to mount as the search for clean drinking water becomes just as desperate as the search for missing family members. Though the United Nations is providing some aid, nothing but a worldwide effort will be able to help the 9.7 million people who were affected by this massive storm.
Many American organizations have set up donation pools on their websites. Donations can be made through any of the following organizations:
The Red Cross – www.redcross.org
Care – www.care.org
AmeriCares – https://secure.americares.org/site/Donation2?df_id=15424&15424.donation=form1&gclid=COHwro6S4roCFYNxOgodbVkAiw
DoctorsWithoutBoarders – https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/truenorth/onetime_philippines.cfm?source=AZD131101D01&q=general_C_US_Haiyan&source=AZD131101D01&gclid=CNSp7rWS4roCFdRlOgodkW0AtQ&mpch=ads
Satellite footage of the Philippines before and after the Typhoon:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/typhoon-haiyan-photos-before-after/
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan-tic-toc/index.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/10/typhoon-haiyan-philippines-vietnam/3488431/