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RIZAL, Philippines: Although it has been a month since Typhoons Ketsana and Parma struck the northern part of the Philippines, millions are still struggling to live in flooded communities and regain their livelihood.
Five tonnes worth of rice, canned goods from the government's social welfare department and vitamin-fortified high energy biscuits from the United Nations World Food Programme are to be distributed to more than 4,000 families.
The residents of Talim Island - located right in the middle of Laguna Lake, south of the capital Manila - are slowly trying to get back on their feet after they were hit by the typhoons. However, with most of their livelihood destroyed, it will take some time before they can fully recover.
Marietta Aragones, a typhoon survivor and a mother of four children, was one of those who waited in line for almost four hours just to get her family's share of relief goods.
"The people are really poor and helpless. We are not able to catch anything especially after the typhoon hit our community," Aragones said.
Fisherman Willy Cruz's small fish pen was destroyed by the typhoons. "The typhoon struck and destroyed everything. We need to fix our fish pens, but right now we don't have any more capital," Cruz said.
Total damage to the fisheries sector caused by the two typhoons has already reached around US$4.5 million. Authorities are allocating an initial US$20,000 to help small fishermen.
With only less than a third of the US$74 million UN flash appeal being raised, the United Nations World Food Programme said that much is still needed to help the eight million Filipinos affected by the floods.
Barry Came, spokesman, United Nations World Food Programme, said: "There is a lot of damage done. Some of the water that we saw today around Laguna can stay there for three months before it drains.
"Our programme now is for three months. That might also get extended for a few months longer depending on the results of the assessment ongoing now."
The Philippine government plans to ask the United Nations to increase its flash appeal for the country.
- CNA/sc
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