Octogenarian jumping from 15,000 feet for birthday fundraiser
David Earl is celebrating his 80th birthday by jumping out of an aeroplane to raise money for ShelterBox
Super Typhoon Goni (known locally as Rolly) made landfall on 1 November, bringing 140mph winds and torrential rainfall, and became the most powerful storm to hit the country since Typhoon Haiyan (2013). Hundreds of thousands of people have evacuated their homes. The first town hit by Goni is said to have lost 90% of its homes – and with communications down, the true scale of the damage is still emerging.
Tropical Storm Atsani (known locally as Siony) is also approaching the region, due to make landfall on 5 November. Hopes remain that the storm will alter its path, but on its current trajectory it could batter communities already on their knees.
A series of worsening storms* beginning in mid-October has brought more misery and uncertainty to a country experiencing the second-worst COVID-19 outbreak in South East Asia. Families now face the double threat of having nowhere to live except potentially over-crowded evacuation centres, while trying to protect themselves from the deadly virus.
ShelterBox Chief Executive Sanj Srikanthan said: ‘People in the Philippines have scarcely been able to draw breath from the physical, emotional and economic onslaught of COVID-19. Now they face the destruction of their homes and livelihoods by a relentless series of storms.
‘This is looking to be the world’s most powerful storm this year, yet it risks being eclipsed in the headlines by world politics and news at home. We cannot stand by and leave displaced families without the shelter they desperately need.’
Marilou Pia, Manager of ShelterBox Operations Philippines in Cebu province, said: ‘With limited access and communication systems, the full extent of the damage is still uncertain, but we do know that many people have been left with nowhere to live.
‘And we are very worried about coronavirus. We already have a very high rate of infection – the government is doing its best to address it, but the virus could spiral out of control if people stay in crowded evacuation centres or with host families for too long.’
Contact the ShelterBox Media Team
David Earl is celebrating his 80th birthday by jumping out of an aeroplane to raise money for ShelterBox
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The Appeal aims to raise £100,000 to help people affected by conflict and extreme weather events