Text and photos by MARIO IGNACIO IV
GUIUAN, Eastern Samar- One week after typhoon Yolanda made its first landfall in this coastal town, residents are still in dire need of basic necessities like food, drinking water, fuel to cook their food and shelter.
They are asking for assistance to repair their houses and to buy equipment and tools for their livelihood. Fishing equipment for fishermen and farming tools for farmers.
Homes, hospitals, and schools have all been destroyed. While some could still be used after major repairs, many have been flattened and need to be rebuilt.
Security in the town also needs to be re-established.
Guiuan was the first to be hit by Yolanda early morning of Friday, Nov. 8. A coastal town composed of 60 barangays, most residents are fisherfolk and farmers.
None of Guiuan’s 47, 087 residents was spared by the fury of Yolanda. Ninety-nine died, 16 are missing and 2,432 sustained injuries.
Of the 99 who perished, 18 died inside the Our Lady of Fatima Church at Barangay Pagnamitan, which was being used at that time as an evacuation center. During the typhoon, the walls of the church collapsed, unable to withstand the storm of wind and water. Marlon Marquez lost his wife and three children.
The town’s small and modest airport is functioning despite the damage. Helicopters from the United States are using it to bring in supplies and medical teams. The helicopters also carry residents from isolated barangays to Guiuan airport from where they wait for wait for planes that would take them to either Cebu or Manila.
The airport has become the hub of the area.The day we were there, there were some people from nearby towns to request for assistance from aid workers. They also sought media for coverage of their towns hoping to bring their plight to the attention of national officials and humanitarian groups. “Papaano naman ang ibang bayan ng Samar (How about other towns of Samar?)” asked Boyboy Probo of Balangiga, a town 70 kilometres from the airport.
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