Women share an umbrella as they look at the mess.
PHOTO: MANSINIDES / CC, FLICKR
Adapted from The Vancouver Sun
Level 3
A typhoon hit the Philippines on November 8, 2013.
It is the worst typhoon in the history of the Philippines. The typhoon was called Haiyan.
The typhoon brought huge winds and rain.
Authorities expect to find 10,000 or more dead. About 700,000 people lost their homes. Altogether, about 9.7 million people are affected.
The typhoon destroyed most of the city of Tacloban.
“I don’t believe there is a single structure that is not destroyed or severely damaged – every single building, every single house,” says U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy.
People wander the streets in Tacloban, Philippines.
PHOTO: NOVE FOTO DA FIRENZE
Read the PDF and do the exercise
Watch the videos
- Sky News report after the typhoon
- A view inside the typhoon
- A view after the typhoon
What is it like after the typhoon?
The people have little water and food. They are hungry and thirsty.
People are taking food and water wherever they can find it.
They have no shelter.
Doctors are desperate for medicines.
Dead bodies lie in the streets.
It is getting worse by the day.
“There is no water, no food,” said one survivor. “People are just scavenging in
the streets.”
Winds and rain destroyed whole towns.
PHOTOS: MANSUNIDES / CC,FLICKR
What is Canada’s Filipino community doing?
Filipino groups in Canada are collecting money, food, clothes, blankets and other supplies.
They are holding fundraising events.
What are Canadian businesses and corporations doing?
Canadian corporations are giving money. Bell is giving $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross. Rogers is giving $50,000.
Smaller businesses like Sukhi Bath Motors are giving volunteer time, phones and space.
What is Canada doing?
The Canadian government is giving $5 million.
Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is going to the Philippines.
Canadians are giving money. For every dollar you give to a registered charity, the Canadian government will give another dollar.
What is the world doing?
International aid groups are sending help as quickly as possible.
The Red Cross is sending a mobile hospital as well as other emergency supplies.
The United Nations is giving $25 million to help. They are paying for emergency shelters, medical care and water.
The river is full of debris after Typhoon Haiyan.
PHOTOS: MANSUNIDES / CC,FLICKR
Facts about the Philippines
The Philippines is a group of about 7000 islands.
Most of the islands are so small they do not have names.
The total population is about 100 million people.
The capital city is Manila.
Many immigrants to Canada come from the Philippines.
There are about 400,000 Filipinos in Canada. About 75,000 Filipinos live in Metro Vancouver.