Estimates report that at least 10,000 people may have died from Typhoon Haiyan, the storm that hit the Philippines on Friday. An excerpt from a NY Times article: 

"As aid crews struggled to reach ravaged areas, the storm exposed some of the perennial problems of the Philippines. The country’s roads and airports, long starved of money by corrupt and incompetent governments, are some of the worst in Southeast Asia and often make traveling long distances a trial. On Monday, clogged with debris from splintered buildings and shattered trees, the roads in the storm’s path were worse, slowing rescue teams." 

The storm surge was so powerful and destructive that it mirrored the aftermath of a tsunami. Survivors have no power or water. People will talk about climate change and fault the government for lack of preparation and poor infrastructure-- all of which are valid-- but meanwhile, the death toll will continue to rise.



We're doing a Filipino event this Thursday where we'll help collect what we can to donate-- canned goods, water, whatever people can contribute. It's something small but I hope it will be able to provide some help to those who have been affected.