Ways to Help the Philippines Recover

By Mary Ludloff

This past weekend the Philippines and surrounding areas were decimated by super typhoon Haiyan. The storm was estimated to have sustaining winds of 195 mph with winds gusts up to 235 mph. It is believed to be one of the strongest storms ever recorded.

For those of us who have lived through typhoons and hurricanes (myself included) and felt the power of those storms, what we saw was nothing compared to what the Philippines endured. The death toll is now estimated to be above 10,000 and climbing and the devastation it left is likened to the destruction wrought by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

It will take years to rebuild and recover from such a disaster and our hearts go out to the people impacted by the typhoon as well as the relief workers who are providing much needed aid to that region. For those of you who would like to help, the New York Times and Reuters have provided lists of organizations (with links) that are providing aid. I would also point you to a local organization (in the Washington area), World Vision, that is intent on providing relief to children and families devastated by the typhoon.

In times like these we are all reminded of the fragility of life, the power of nature, and the undeniable fact that we are truly all in this together. Please help if you can.