Beijing Samaritan on the Ground to Aid Typhoon Haiyan Victims, Calls for Donations

An estimated death toll of 10,000, and hundreds of thousands displaced in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the coastal areas of the Philippines last Friday, has relief groups around the world scrambling to bring aid to the country. The Guardian's last reports from Monday stated there is a serious shortage of secure shelter. Hundreds are being buried in mass graves and bodies still litter the streets and flooded areas. Two point five million people are in need of food according to the World Food Program.

Founder of Beijing-based charity Bethel China, Guillaume Gauvain, was in Bohol on the southern tip of Cebu island in the Philippines when the typhoon struck, setting up a therapy center for disabled children. He and his team are currently on the ground in the badly affected regions of northern Cebu, doing what they can to distribute food and clear roads. They are using construction equipment to clear power lines, distributing rice and even handing out lollipops. Bethel has arranged for donations to be made through Bethel's donation page on their website.

To donate, specify ‘other’ and write ‘Cebu relief’ in the box. Expenses will be tracked and reports written weekly. The fund will be fully separated from Bethel China's usual operating costs.

The Guardian has also provided a list of international organizations that you can support.

A video documenting the disaster and Gauvain's journey to the north of Cebu is available on YouTube. Below is a written account from Gauvain about what he has witnessed so far, what can be done and his appeal for aid:

"We came back late last night from our trip to the north of Cebu. It took seven hours for a trip that usually takes two. The more north we went, the more damage there is, until we saw all houses leveled, all trees beheaded and all telephone and electric lines are on the ground. Most wooden houses are destroyed. You could really tell where the gusts of winds passed, because you could have a house standing next to the same house that was flattened to the ground.

"We went with our friend John and his family. He owns a construction business so he had some power tools and a truck, we rode in the back of the truck.

"Our first stop was to cut electric lines that stopped traffic and move the pole. As we went further north we got to a point where the typhoon washed the road away so traffic couldn't pass through. People were standing there because they wanted to go up north to go back to their home towns but couldn't go. So we told them to hop on the truck and took a back road. We had a dozen people with us on the way up. We had to stop first to get a car unstuck in the mud, cut down trees and remove branches from the road. As we went we would clear poles, trees or other debris from the road and kept pushing north.

"We knew we were the first ones to go thru as we had to make way for the big truck to pass through. A line of cars and other trucks were following us, waiting for us to clear the road. More and more often we had to stop since every electric power line pole was lying on the road or on a roof top. One time the people in the truck saw one of these pole on the road and said "oh no we can't go through". We tried to keep the moral up and told them it was no problem, we'll find a way. John only had a small electric battery powered saw but was able to cut the big pole.

"All the villagers around clapped when we took the thing down and pushed it aside! We also bought over a hundred lollypops! We just threw them from the trucks as we saw kids and you should have seen the smile on their faces! I kept shouting to people Justin Bieber was in the truck and pointed at Zach... that put a smile on people's faces!

"We reached the north tip of Cebu and cleared the way! Now we know that ambulances and other vehicles can access there at least. We gave out bags of rice (we bought 170 10-pound bags) to families and then made our way back. The plan was to go as far north as possible because we knew that was were the most damage was and then give out rice on our way back. We couldn't stop and give out bags cause there is a risk of getting mobbed, so we handed them out as we were passing by. It was already dark so we'd spot families or children and shout 'bugas' (rice) and then light up the rice with the flashlight.

"We have decided to open the Bethel China foundation account to receive funding to help. Driving all the way, I realized that it will take months to restore power since every has been uprooted from the ground. Schools were flattened, gas stations flattened, not only the roof but even the gas dispenser. I even saw a concrete phone pole broken in half.

"So if you want to help, we will buy bags of rice, tarpaulin and other things needed. I think it is not a coincidence that we are so close, so since we are set up to receive donations and have friends who can help to reach these areas, let's do it."

Visit Bethel's website and follow them on facebook for updates on the situation

You can read the Beijinger interview with Guillaume Gauvain on his local projects here.

Email: nickrichards@thebeijinger.com
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Twitter: @nik_richards
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Photos: Courtesy of Bethel China