Typhoon Odette victims in Southern Leyte appeal for help

Victims of Typhoon Odette in Malitbog, Southern Leyte are calling for help as seen in inscriptions on placards placed around their devastated area on Thursday.

The placards are placed along the road, plastered on rubbles, and being held up for passing motorists to see.

“Need help, no house”, “Help. Shelter. Food”, and “Help us” are some of the inscriptions on the placards.

At least 136,369 houses were damaged due to Odette including 83,633 that were partially damaged and 52,736 totally damaged, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

A total of 486,361 people or 122,575 families were staying in 2,535 evacuation centers, while 123,341 individuals or 29,906 families were staying in the houses of their relatives and friends.

On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte pledged to raise P10 billion to aid the victims of the typhoon.

He also ordered the release of funds from the Office of the President to help the affected communities, saying that the funds will be downloaded on or before Friday.

“What I can promise you is that I said on or before Friday, the money will be downloaded. Hindi ito yung contingent fund, hindi yung calamity (This is not the contingency or calamity fund). This is the money nakuha ko (I got) from my office,” he said during his Talk to the People. —LBG, GMA News