Food and Shelter for Philippine Typhoon Survivors

Dear Friends,

In July, Typhoon Fabian drenched  the northern islands of Luzon in the Philippines leaving more than 22,000 people homeless in the areas of Illocos and Laguna-Quezon provinces.  Thousands of displaced families need basic necessities. The dire situation is more complicated due to a new wave of the COVID19 virus infecting hundreds of thousands of people across the northern and central Philippines, including in typhoon damaged areas. Asia America Initiative and local partners continue assisting families by providing food, clothing, hygiene supplies, protective gear against the virus, toys for children and clean water. 

The COVID pandemic and simultaneous floods are just another chapter in the plight of the Philippines which leads the world in a variety of natural disasters. " Asia America Initiative's local partners and volunteers have chosen to risk their lives  to conduct  emergency and long-term relief operations to hundreds of affected families," says Dr. Yolanda, Director of the One World Institute. "We apply lessons learned as a team from two decades of partnership in relief programs."

Asia America Initiative specializes in support to disaster survivors, especially in remote villages that are difficult to reach. We are assisting thousands of families, especially children and the elderly, who are in desperate need. Our mission is to serve as a lifeline where hope is in short supply. Our goal in 2021 is to assist 30,000 adults and children in the flooded areas. Our next mission into Illocos mountainous area is planned for early September. We have loaded large boxes of aid materials shipped from the United Staters onto trucks in manila. We will continue to distribute donated food, medicines, clean water, hygiene, and education/school suppliesfor the current crisis period..

If you would like to support this project as we have entered the new typhoon season, please click the link below. Your donations are always greatly appreciated. 

Food and Shelter for Philippine Typhoon Survivors

Thank you, 

Albert Santoli,

Director, Asia America Initiative

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website

Asia America Initiative and our local partners are continuing to provide relief to families displaced by November's Super Typhoon Goni in the Philippines. In a recent event, we were able to include stuffed animals for the children, as well as books, and hygiene supplies. 

The psychological trauma after a catastrophe can be especially difficult for children. Giving a stuffed animal offers them a small friend to tell their trouble to. We have witnessed children coming out of their shells when given a toy or when able to draw pictures that tell their story. The pandemic has decreased the number of care givers who can visit and provide comfort. But the children know they have friends and angels who may be far away but still care about them. 

"I love my little bear," said a shy child named Maria.  Her family lost almost all of their belongings in the Super Typhoon.  "I named him "Gabby Bear."  Because he always keep me company when my Mom is taking care of my baby sister."

In November 2020, Super Typhoon Goni delivered destruction across the Philippines. The floods, wind damage, mud, and rock-slides have displaced more than 400,000 people. In areas of Visayas and Mindanao, many houses and schools were destroyed. New storms and flooding in 2020-21 have increased the damage.

Our immediate goal is to assist 30,000 additional disaster victims. The immediate impact is to keep people alive, healthy, and in a positive frame of mind enthusiastic about building a better future. The long-term effect is to have a role in addressing the medical and social systems of impacted communities. Our strength is fortified by our multiple partnerships with local, national, and international organizations. Most importantly, the support of our extended community of GlobalGiving donors is helping to establish a model of self-sufficiency for storm survivors across the region. We are grateful for your contnued support.

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website

The Philippines leads the world in natural disasters. Between September and November 2020, a series of typhoons delivered destruction, displacing thousands of families across the island nation. Asia America Initiative and local partners are conducting emergency and long-term relief including food and water to thousands of affected families. We apply lessons learned from two decades of relief programs. We also provide shelter materials, hygiene supplies, medicines, and ongoing post-trauma services.

In November 2020, Super Typhoon Goni delivered destruction across the Philippines. The floods, wind damage, and mud- and rock-slides have displaced more than 400,000 people. In areas of Visayas and Mindanao, many houses and schools were destroyed. New storms and flooding in 2020 have furthered the damage. We continue to care for displaced and severely affected communities. Our assistance goal for 2020 is 30,000 people, primarily children, and elders.

Giving Tuesday is Tuesday, December 1. If you would like to continue to support this program, your contribution will receive a match from GlobalGiving if made before midnight. Click the link below:

Food and Shelter for Philippine Typhoon Survivors

Wishing you peace in the coming year,  

Albert Santoli

President, Asia America Initiative

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought many challenges including getting needed supplies and food to communities recovering from natural disasters. Typhoon and armed conflict survivors across the Philippines have been greatly affected by hardships created by the pandemic. In Asia America Initiative pograms that address disaster relief in the three major regions of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao we have strategized with our local partners in affected communities to "link arms for progress."  Thanks to our GlobalGiving donors, local health professionals teachers, firefighters, and volunteers have been working together to receive and distribute much needed food, shelter and hygenic supplies as it arrives from the United States.

We are fortunate to be conducting long-term relief and providing food and water to thousands of affected families. We support  disaster survivors, especially in remote villages that are difficult to reach. We assist thousands of families in desperate need. We extend a lifeline through partnerships with courageous volunteers and professionals. Our goal in 2020 is to assist 30,000 adults and children. We will continue to distribute donated medical, hygiene, and education/school supplies and ongoing post-trauma services. The long-term effect is to have a role in addressing the medical and social systems of impacted communities.

In Sulu located in the Muslim region of Southeast Asia near Indonesia and Malaysia, our AAI Coordinator, Tarhata, an elementary school teacher by training, describes how she has learned by her experience of working with AAI:

"When I started working as a volunteer for AAI, I was swimming in a deep blue sea for I didn't know how it worked. I had a few ideas abouthow to best proceed, with an overwhelming series of calamities to address, but as I was actually there, being with the rest of the volunteers, my heart and love for helping others showed me the way. Big help to that of course, is the encouragement from my mentor, Prof Albert Santoli.

"Thank you so much to all of our generous donors. Being able to lend a hand in my own little way misan a sangsa da kuman is fulfilling. I know the Sulu AAI team shares the same feeling. Through this process I have learned that I have so many worthy friends around the world who I have never met. Their kindness makes our work easier and happier. Thank you so much to all volunteers and donors of Asia America Initiative. We are indeed a big family."

Asia America Initiative with our local partners are conducting long-term relief and providing food and water to thousands of affected families as the pandemic's intensity continues to fluctuate and spreads fear.

It is only one month before the start of a new school year. Our long-term challenge is to create a cost-effective system to address the medical and social needs of impacted communities. Our consistency of action helps to dispel fear and isolation. Our strength is in our multiple partnerships with local, national and international organizations.  With your ongoing help we are fighting for their success!

Links:

• Asia America Initiative Website

(AAI is participating in GlobalGiving's Little by Little Campaign TODAY starting at 9am. Donations up to $50 will be matched at 50%. Click through this report if you would like to continue your support for this important project. Thank you ! )

Food and Shelter for Philippine Typhoon Survivors

Dear GlobalGiving Friends,

Beginning in December 2019 the Philippines has been dealing with earthquakes, a massive volcano, typhoon floods -- and now -- the Covid19 Virus.  The pandemic has caused the capital, Manila, and most of the country's 7,000 islands to be "locked down."  We have been proactive with more than 20 years of emergency relief experiences. Our ongoing relief for typhoon survivors funded by GlobalGiving donors has enabled us to pre-position supplies from abroad and purchase essential goods from local markets. Distribution is being conducted by Asia America staff through school nurses and other local volunteers. To maintain our inter-cultural focus, we are also donating foods to children's feeding programs in churches in the Washington, DC - Northern Virginia area.

We are among the relatively few organizations able to provide support. The communities we serve are now experiencing shortages of food and medical supplies. We were fortunate to have a large shipment of food and medical supplies, including sterilized gloves, face masks and anti-bacterial soaps and sprays. We stepped up our effort with shipments in January and February, and currently US partners are preparing to donate supplies to our Filipino teams.

"The Healthcare team in West Visayas State University Hospital - Medical Center would like to humbly ask for your support," requests Dr. Lissette Fontanilla-Gonzales. "We badly need supplies of Disinfectants, Surgical masks, and other protective equipment to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in our country. Praying fervently for your favorable response.  A heartfelt thanks to all of AAI's team and donors for your generosity."

Our long term goal is the self-sufficiency of storm survivors across the region. The immediate impact is to keep survivors of multiple disasters alive, healthy and in a positive frame of mind. We stabilize the medical and social systems of impacted communities. Our strength is in our multiple partnerships with local, national and international organizations.  Your donations especially matter to keep our network in place in order to be able to respond to events as they happen. 

Links:

• Asia America Initiative website