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Pinoy Abroad

Mass-food fair held in Amsterdam for Yolanda victims


ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands — Filipinos and Dutch alike joined together in Amsterdam on Sunday to pray for the souls of the thousands of victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Central Philippines and raise funds for those who survived.

The Mass, followed by a food fair, was set up by various Filipino organizations based in the Netherlands within a week after Yolanda pummeled the island of Leyte and nearby provinces.

More than 4,000 euros was raised during the event, the first of the many lined up in the following weeks.

 
Various Filipino organizations in The Netherlands held a food fair last week for the thousands of victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. The food fair, which succeeded a Mass, was the first of many fundraising activities lined up for the typhoon victims in the following weeks. More than 4,000 euros was raised during the event.o
“We feel that we have to respond in three ways: we have to respond urgently, we have to respond in the medium term, and we have to respond in the long term for the needs of the people in re-building their lives,” said Maitet Ledesma of IBON International, one of the coordinators of the event.

Sheryl Perez, whose house in Tanauan, Leyte, was damaged at the height of the typhoon is grateful for such efforts as she knows exactly what the people in her town are going through.

Countless people who have lost their homes are temporarily living in her house and being fed by her family. She does not know until when they can feed them though so she called upon the Philippine government not to forget Tanauan.

“I wish that government help and rescue efforts will finally reach our area. A lot of people also died there, if not dead, hungry and homeless. We are trying our best to give them temporary food and shelter but our personal supplies will not last long. There is even a shortage in blankets,” she said in a concerned tone.

Florisa Almodiel's parents have decided to retire in Bantayan Island years ago to her dismay. “I told my parents when they decided to retire in Bantayan that it is a vulnerable island, that when something happens, that island will be wiped off the map,” she recounted.

When she received news about the devastation that Yolanda brought to the island, she was distressed. It took her one full week to finally hear from them again. Luckily, they were unscathed. She urged the government to seriously take on the issue of climate change.

“We have to start believing that it's real. If we do not do something now, how many lives will have to be lost?” Almodiel asked.

The proceeds of the fundraising activity will go to non-government organizations chosen by the coordinating groups. “We want to support the initiatives and efforts of non-government organizations because we want to multiply the channels for relief and rehabilitation because of the widespread areas that have been affected by the storm,” Ledesma explained. — KBK, GMA News
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