Philippines floods: Survivors still reeling from the shock

Missiona and her daughter, Jarmiss, 13, now safe in the Plan-supported evacuation centre.

She used to love playing in the rain, just like any other child. But now, the mere sound of raindrops makes her quiver.

Jarmiss fought a battle to survive on the night of December 16 as the flood caused by Typhoon Washi surged through her village. The 13-year-old held on to the leaves of a water palm to save herself from being swept away.

"I just wanted to live. It was cold, I was very tired, but I held on," she said, remembering the flood that washed away people and houses in their village in Iligan City in Northern Mindanao.

Jarmiss and her family are still in an evacuation centre in a local elementary school almost a month after the floods that devastated swathes of towns and villages in Mindanao island in the southern Philippines. More than 1200 people died and 118,000 families were affected; more than 80,000 families are still homeless.

"We were asleep when my father roused us at about 11pm as the flood water had already entered our house," said Jarmiss. "We rushed out of the house and swam to the river bank, but in just a few minutes the floodwater was already over our heads."

Jarmiss and the other members of her family clung to the leaves of the water palms that grow wild along the river banks until dawn.

Jarmiss's mother, Missiona, tightly hugged her six-year-old son during the five-hour ordeal.  Missiona's husband and other two children were all fighting to stay afloat. "I would shout at each member of the family to check that they were still holding on," said Missiona. “I was making sure that no one fell asleep as they would have certainly drowned."

But as huge logs started to arrive, Jarmiss's 12-year old sister Jonamar was hit and lost her grip. The family saw her being swallowed up by the Mandulog River as it made its way to Iligan Bay. Next, Jarmiss's 26-year-old Aunt Anabelle was hit by a log and also swept away.

"We could not do anything,” said Missiona. "The floodwater had strong currents. We prayed hard for their safety."

When the water receded in the early hours of December 17, the family saw the extent of damage – toppled houses, huge logs, uprooted trees and, most painful of all, the bodies of the dead.

Just when the Jarmiss’s family had given up hopes of Jonamar and Anabelle’s survival, they learned both had been rescued. They were treated for wounds in a nearby hospital and were reunited with the family at their temporary shelter in the local school.

"I thought I was already dead. I fell asleep because I was so tired. When I opened my eyes and saw all the debris and the water around me, I was thankful to be still alive," said Anabelle. She along with Jonamar and four others was rescued in Iligan Bay by a passing boat the following afternoon.

When the school year began on January 3, the 360 families (2000 people) sheltering in the school gym had to move out, but many of them, including Jarmiss’s family, are still on the grounds and in other buildings as they have nowhere else to go.

Plan has distributed 40 tents to the families for shelter, along with water kits to make sure that each family can have access to clean drinking water. As rain continues and rainwater becomes stagnant there is a greater risk of diseases such as dengue caused by mosquitoes; Plan has also distributed mosquito nets to the families.

"Water has been a problem because the water system has been damaged," said Missiona. "But with water kits, we are no longer afraid of not having access to safe drinking water."

Plan is responding to the life-saving needs of families in the worst affected parts of Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Negros Oriental. We are aiming to reach nearly 150,000 affected people and have started distributing relief items including 10,000 hygiene kits, 10,000 water-purification kits, 15,000 mosquito nets and 20,000 traditional blankets (Malong) among other essential supplies.

Carin van der Hor, Plan’s Country Director in the Philippines, said: "The need is overwhelming. We are working with local government, UN and other humanitarian organisations to reach out to the most vulnerable groups."

Children continue to remain the main focus of Plan’s response. We have distributed 290 tents in Iligan and 20 in Cagayan de Oro for use as shelters and temporary learning spaces for children. So far we have conducted eight sessions with 537 children and 87 adults in Cagayan de Oro to address their emotional needs.

We are appealing for $US1.5 million to fund our initial response. At this point almost $US1 million has been raised, with more needed.

To support children affected by the Philippines typhoon and Plan’s work with children and communities affected by disasters around the world, donate to the Children in Crisis Fund online or by calling 13 75 26.

Find out more about Plan’s response to the Philippines floods.

Find out more about Plan’s work in the Philippines.