Odette-hit victim in Maasin, Southern Leyte spray painted ‘Lord Help’ amid devastation

"Lord Help"

These were the words, in bold letters, spray painted by a child whose house in Barangay Mantahan, Maasin, Southern Leyte was heavily damaged by the Typhoon Odette last week.

According to Jonathan Andal's report on GTV's "Unang Balita," the child was calling for donations as his family no longer had a house to go home to.

Several homes were swept by strong winds and catastrophic rains brought about by Typhoon Odette. Until now, there is still no electricity in the village but luckily, residents have potable water.

However, villagers were complaining that they have yet to receive assistance from the government.

"Walang ayuda sa gobyerno na binigay dito. Walang nahatid, ni isang kilong bigas walang nabigay dito," one of the residents said.

(The government did not give us aid. Not even one kilo of rice was given to us.)

"Mahirap kasi wala kaming pera. 'Yung bahay namin nandito pa. Pagkain namin wala na," a woman said while weeping at her roofless house.

(It is difficult for us because we don't have money. Our home is still here but we don't have food.)

In another Facebook post, Andal said relief goods that were supposed to be distributed to calamity-stricken residents in Maasin City were destroyed.

The gymnasium where the relief items were stored was also ravaged by the typhoon.

The Maasin City government said one person died while four were injured in the locality after being hit by Odette.

Data from Philippine National Police also showed that the typhoon left 211 people killed, 239 individuals injured and 52 missing.—LDF, GMA News