It's been five days since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines.
I have never dreaded turning on the news so much.
The Monday after Haiyan, I went to Bangkok for LEAD Asia's Community of Practice, a semi-annual gathering of development practitioners within LEAD's network in Asia. Today was our third and last day.
During our time in Bangkok, my two Filipina colleagues-turned-roommates and I found ourselves distracted by updates on the aftermath of Haiyan. We kept tuning in to CNN even though we knew very well what we would see: endless footage of buildings leveled by the storm surge like little houses of playing cards, people queuing at the airport for their portion of relief goods, people crying for lost or missing loved ones.... The picture was so grim that we were relieved when the newscaster switched topics momentarily to the Iran talks (yes, the Iran talks).
It's no secret that the media plays up the worst of a situation, but I can't think they're exaggerating this one much. Survivors in hard-hit cities like Tacloban need help, lots of it. But the question--one I've struggled with since I came to the Philippines--is not so much, "Do I help?" It's, "How do I help?" Friends have asked if I am physically going to go and help in the relief effort. Not being trained in providing relief, I would probably be more of a curse (one more tuna sandwich to make!) than a blessing if I showed up in Tacloban. So in Manila, I thought, I can help by supporting the disaster relief professionals who have that training. Today I began writing an email to friends and supporters back home, to ask them to join me in giving to a local org I have met that is helping in the relief effort. But I haven't sent it yet. Partly because of this.
Unsurprisingly in the wake of an unprecedented disaster, there appears to be “no evidence of any organized delivery of food, water or medical supplies, though piles of aid have begun to arrive at the airport.” The relief effort has been described as a logistical nightmare. It seems the main challenge is not getting aid, but getting it to the people who need it. Those who were supposed to be first responders were themselves affected by the typhoon. Entire systems were swept out to sea. More aid probably won't help until some system for organized distribution is worked out.
I hope to be able to ultimately send that email and give to those affected by the typhoon. Please pray for those (now impatiently) waiting for relief goods to get them. Pray for coordination between the government and relief agencies. Pray for good intentions on the part of NGOs to become good on-the-ground realities.