Typhoon Haiyan Diary of a disaster

Aid worker’s nine days of hell in Philippines catastrophe.

The most powerful storm in history hit the Philippines just over a week ago with 235mph winds wreaking havoc.

The death toll of Typhoon Haiyan rose mercilessly throughout the week and now stands at almost 4,000. It’s feared that number will rise much higher.

Kind-hearted Scots raised more than £2 million in the first two days of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal.

Christian Aid, which has been working with many international partners, has been in the front line of the immediate aftermath of the cataclysmic storm.

Daphne Villanueva, the charity’s manager for the Philippines, gave The Sunday Post her day-by-day diary of the week from hell. As told to Bill Gibb.

Friday, Nov. 8

“Our offices are in the capital Manila.

“Although the main impact was in the central part, in the islands, it battered us here too with roofs rattling and lots of damage.

“The city had been on alert for days with schools closed and people stocking up.

“It was feared it would be the worst storm ever but imagining what it might be like and actually experiencing it are two different things.

“I was a victim of Typhoon Ketsana in 2009. My house was totally flooded and I lost everything. That was the strongest we’d had and I thought I’d never see the like again.

“But when I got out to the areas affected by Haiyan it was beyond anything I could have believed.

“It was 10 times worse.”

Saturday, Nov. 9

“Saturday was like the eerie stillness after the storm because everything was down.

“Everyone was trying to find out what was happening but communication was impossible and we simply didn’t know how bad it really was out there.

“We spent the whole day trying to get in touch with people and decided we’d just have to go out as early as we could on Sunday and try to reach those affected.”

Sunday, Nov. 10

“Less than 48 hours after it hit, we were on our way but it was incredibly difficult. Four Christian Aid teams went out but the roads were virtually impassable.

“There were three in our team, all women, in a van. We were heading for the island of Leyte and Tacloban City where the typhoon first made landfall.

“Locals had tried to clear some parts of the road but we were trying to get round debris, roofs of houses, giant hardwood trees uprooted, everything.

“When we got off the boat on Leyte it was total chaos. In outlying parts with not so many buildings it didn’t seem too bad. But as we got to denser areas we could see whole communities completely destroyed. The three of us had been quite noisy at first, saying: ‘Oh my God, did you see that?’ But the more the horror became clear the quieter we became. Then we fell silent. It was so hard to take.

“People were wandering around helplessly and as darkness fell we couldn’t imagine how they’d get through another night.

“It was really disorienting as we arrived in Tacloban in total darkness. The lights of the van would pick out the most bizarre things, like a big boat sitting in the road in the middle of the city.

“If you hadn’t have known it was a typhoon you would have wondered if it was an earthquake or tsunami.”

Monday, Nov. 11

“We started meeting with other aid agencies and the UN but the devastation was such that nobody could get a picture of what was going on.

“In a disaster area you usually have to find the bits affected. But virtually everywhere was affected with 95% of the place devastated. The scale was beyond comprehension.

“You didn’t need to look for the households that needed help. Everybody needed help.

“As darkness fell it was dangerous for three women to be out. The local Red Cross had managed to set up something at a ruined hotel and we parked there for security.”

Tuesday, Nov. 12

“We were trying to hook up to the official system for getting aid to those that needed it. We hadn’t known if we could get in and bring goods and, as you saw with tragedies during the week with crushes, there was a risk of big crowds gathering.

“We were still trying to work out what we could get in and how to distribute it.

“People were desperate and the smell was awful. You saw people carrying bodies in bags. It was terrible.”

Wednesday, Nov. 13

“We gave any food we could get to anyone we could. It wasn’t a case of prioritising the need is right there in front of you.

“You don’t need to think. Everyone has had their houses flooded or destroyed.

“They all need whatever you can get so you just give to people in the best place you can.

“In Tacloban it was so desperate more tales were coming in of looting.”

Thursday, Nov. 14

“It really felt like the same picture every day. It’s still so difficult to set up anything and people are desperate for info that we can’t give because we just don’t know.

“Although we know babies are being born, it’s so hard to find any little bits of happiness. But we went to the ruins of a church and those who had some food were sharing it selflessly with those who were starving.

“They said, ‘What about next week when we have nothing to share?’”

Friday, Nov. 15

“There’s a feeling that things are moving on. More goods are coming from the government but the devastation is so vast what they can do is limited.

“Goods are coming in from outside as well but it’s still hard to get it to those who need it. We’re trying to coordinate with all the agencies to make sure distributions go on at the same time so there’s no mobbing.”

Saturday, Nov. 16

“We headed out again with shelter kits and power generators. We’re now getting food in by truck, mainly rice and canned goods, and have to get that flowing very fast now.

“We have at least three distributions in the next few days.

“The priority is to get things out as people are absolutely desperate.

“Tomorrow we’ll be on a boat trying to get to more outlying areas of Leyte with food and emergency shelters.

“I can see an improvement and have hope in my heart that this week will get better.

“We’ll need to be with them for a long time it’s not just a quick thing it’s vital that people who’ve already been so generous with their donations keep on giving.”

“Four more typhoons are forecast before the end of the year.

“It’s a real worry as they’ll be hitting a country still shattered.”

Norman McKinley, chair of the DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal in Scotland said: “We are so grateful to the people of Scotland for their generosity over this past week.

“The strong response we have received has allowed DEC member agencies and their partners to deliver essential aid on the ground.

“But the needs are so great, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced.

“People desperately need the basics of food, water and shelter.

“Money raised from this appeal will go to delivering these essentials and help us reach as many people as possible.

“Every donation will make a difference.”