Philippines: Town Still Flooded after Typhoon Ketsana

Residents of a lakeside village near Manila called out for help on Tuesday the 29th, as relief efforts struggled to reach distant towns devastated by Typhoon Ketsana.

Floods have subsided in most of the capital and nearby provinces. But the fishing and farming village of San Vicente in Angono, 25 miles east of Manila, is still submerged in water. Most of the homes are almost completely underwater, with many residents left standing on rooftops.

[Jun Pabuhinog, Resident]:
„Here, what we need primarily are food, clothing and medicine. We also have nothing to drink.“

Many flood victims are frustrated over the government’s slow response to the disaster.

[Albert Cano, Resident]:
„We’re being given attention, but it’s not sufficient. Others here have not received food. That’s unfair. I hope all the sectors of the government will help us. I really feel the suffering that we’re all experiencing.“

President Gloria Arroyo has called the typhoon „an extreme event that has strained response capabilities to the limit.“ She has appealed to the international community for humanitarian aid.

Several foreign governments and U.N. agencies have already pledged nearly $2 million in rice and relief supplies. U.S. soldiers have come to Manila to help with relief efforts.

Filipinos have been helping each other to cope with the disaster. Private citizens and volunteer groups collected relief goods and gave them to victims. Many people have even opened their homes to strangers who had to evacuate.

Tyhphoon Ketsana dumped more than a month’s worth of average rainfall on Manila and surrounding areas in one 24-hour period.

The death toll has risen to 246, with 38 missing. However the human toll could rise further, once reports come in from remote areas.

(NTDTV)