By Albert Santoli | Project Leader
On July 24, 2018, a massive fire in Jolo, Sulu burned for 8 hours in the port and market areas that were crowded with wooden shacks and a number of school buildings. More than 3,000 homes that housed over 5,000 large families were burned to the ground, displacing some 30,000 people.
Immediately, Asia America Initiative team members helped first responders and inter-faith humanitarian groups, such as Notre Dame College of Jolo, to provide emergency aid and support to survivors. Massive amounts of food, water and medicine were needed in the make-shift evacuations centers - including AAI supported schools that became emergency shelters. The centers were provided with food, clothing, soap, clean water, mats, medicine, fans, hygiene products, and toys for the children by AAI and other international donors.
In a display of unity, AAI school communities in the Christian region of Visayas spontaneously began a clothing drive to send to AAI Muslim volunteers helping displaced families on the southern island of Sulu.
Students at Angub Elementary and Cuartero National High School gathered and boxed clothing to send. Arrangements were made with Philippine Airlines who donated cargo space to fly supplies into Sulu.
Students brought in their personal clothing to school and worked together to box, tape, label and send the belongings to Sulu's displaced children.
One month into the recovery, AAI’s support for fire victims in Jolo is ongoing, as they begin to rebuild homes and their futures.
"We are amazed by the response of good samaritans from outside of our region," says Dr. Merhama, an elementary school principal who had many students whose families lost their homes in the fire. "It was a shock that such an overwhelming tragedy could happen so quickly, with no time for any of us to prepare. The willingness to partner by AAI, Notre Dame, Muslim student associations and donors from overseas is a true example of how very different people can make a positive impact in this world."
We are very proud of our Muslim and Christian students in Sulu and Visayas for caring about each other. Multicultural AAI communities exemplify the best qualities of who we are as a representative of the spirit of cooperation that has led to GlobalGiving community's success.
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