Typhoon Haiyan: Devastation in Ormoc and Tacloban

To sum up his feelings after being there for one week, Dr Ho said, “I think the wrath are extensive and heart-wrenching.”

Dr Ho Loon Shin, a medical lecturer with the Monash University who responded fast to Typoon Haiyan by starting a fund-raising drive not just among the Rotary clubs in Malaysia and Singapore but also among his colleagues in the university, to get cash donation for the displaced and needy, returned from the Philippines on the 3rd of December.

Safe but with a slightly injured knee, Dr Ho said,”The trip was a great success and at the end of the day, it was a team effort and applause should go to all the Rotary clubs, Rotarians, their families and the many unsung heroes who worked quietly alongside them.”

To sum up his feelings after being there for one week, Dr Ho said, “I think the wrath are extensive and heart-wrenching.”

Dr Ho managed to collect RM 400,000 just before he left but the amount has reached RM 447,000 and donations are still needed for this relief effort.

Tacloban and Ormoc, the two biggest cities on Leyte, were visited by Dr Ho. He said that while fewer people were killed in Ormoc, 90 percent of the structures were damaged leaving residents exposed to the elements and food shortages remain a big problem.

The following pictures speaks volumes about Dr Ho Loon Shin recent visit in aid of Leyte:

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Rotary clubs in aid for the typhoon victims

 

The Cebu International Convention Centre was one of the places used as a warehouse
The Cebu International Convention Centre was one of the places used as a warehouse.

 

Volunteers helping to get the school up and running
Volunteers helping to get the school up and running

 

One of the damaged schools on Leyte
One of the damaged schools on Leyte.

 

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Damaged buildings created by typhoon Haiyan

 

Another result of the wrath of Haiyan
Another result of the wrath of Haiyan

 

A volunteer looks on
A volunteer looks on in desperation at the ire of Haiyan.

 

Dr Ho buying bread who those who could not afford
Dr Ho buying bread for those who could not afford it.

 

500 people took shelter in this limestone cave to avoid the effects of the typhoon
500 people took shelter in this limestone cave to avoid the effects of the typhoon

 

Dr Ho met some Koreans who spent two weeks....
Dr Ho met some Koreans who had spent two weeks cutting fallen trees on the streets and in schools and helped to open up roads.

 

New roofing was needed for damaged buildings on the island
New roofing was needed for damaged buildings on the island

 

A note of appreciation by the locals found on a tree stump
A note of appreciation by the locals found on a tree stump

 

Volunteers in the soup kitchen
Volunteers in the soup kitchen

 

Soup kitchen
One of the most pressing need is food and shelter from the elements

 

Residents queuing up for the soup
Residents queuing up for the soup Dr Ho is patiently dishing out despite his injured knee.

 

Volunteers busy cooking the much-needed food
Volunteers busy cooking the much-needed food.

 

A typical scene in Tacloban and the surrounding towns
A typical scene in Tacloban and the surrounding towns

 

Buyers and sellers doing a brisk business in stolen goods
Buyers and sellers doing a brisk business in stolen goods

 

Hurray...the school built by Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA was not destroyed
This is one of the schools built by the Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA . They are all typhoon-proof.

 

 

Teresa Yeo