Nearly two dozen Filipino families in The Bahamas are desperate to hear from relatives in the Philippines after a super typhoon ravaged its provinces on Friday, according to Dr. Leo Ignacio, president of Overseas Filipino Workers International Bahamas (OFWIB).
Ignacio told The Nassau Guardian yesterday that one man learnt on Sunday night that five of his relatives had been killed and several others were missing.
"As far as we are here in The Bahamas we can only pray, and pray that our loved ones back home are safe," said Ignacio at the Nassau Medical Centre, Carmichael Road.
"We hope that with power restored that we can get through on the Internet to them as soon as possible.
"We still have a lot of our members who cannot get through to them (their families) at this time.
"We had an emergency meeting last night (Sunday) so we can organize a fund raising campaign, which we started with our group."
Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), a category seven storm considered one of the largest in history, blasted the eastern seaboard of the Philippines with 170 miles per hour winds and 20-foot storm surges that swept through Tacloban, capital of the island province of Leyte.
The typhoon has killed an estimated 10,000 people and affected millions more.
But as the United Nations and humanitarian partners ramp up relief efforts, a new storm expected to impact the southern provinces sometime today could hamper those efforts.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Association has issued a tropical cyclone warning for tropical depression Zoraida.
Ignacio said the effects of Haiyan are "overwhelming", but Zoraida could make an already devastating situation much worse.
It is a concern shared by the entire Filipino community in The Bahamas, Ignacio said, adding that some people who managed to contact relatives have found that in many cases they were injured and/or lost their homes.
Several executives of the 200-member organization have traveled to the Philippines to provide aid.
Ignacio is urging Bahamians to assist those Filipinos in need.
"These are people asking for help," he said. "We have first-hand reports from places that have not gotten any aid at this time and the emotional effects of this cannot be described."
According to the Republic of Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as of Sunday an estimated 9.53 million people were affected by Haiyan.
The department has already extended $10.6 million worth of relief assistance to affected regions, according to releases on its website.
The OFWIB plans to partner with a non-governmental organization to coordinate monetary donations to assist in relief efforts.
Ignacio said the primary focus of the donations will be to assist with food and water.
Anyone wishing to donate to relief efforts can contact the organization via its Facebook page: Help and Relief for Victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

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