Ex-resident sees ‘significant devastation’ in the Phillipines

A Filipino has described the scenes of devastation in her neighbourhood in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.

Nora Leigh, a former Bermuda resident, left the island in 2007 to set up a ministry in the province of Iloilo, in the central Western Visayas region.

She is pastor of Jesus Christ the Victorious Ministry, near San Dionisio, where the United Nations has reported “significant devastation”, along with neighbouring towns.

Ms Leigh said yesterday: “We left early this morning to go to fifth district, to distribute food and clothing to the victims. 

“Sad to say that it was very devastating to see the actual scene.”

Ms Leigh said: “It’s hard to believe” this happened. 

She added when they went to park their vehicle they saw a funeral parlour with many uncovered bodies which had already turned black. 

“We interviewed the person in charge and she said that they have been identified by the relatives but it is impossible for them to get the body as they don’t have any money.”

She added the people had no money to purchase caskets.

“One of the members of the church died, not because of the flood but because of galvanized iron flying everywhere. His knee was cut and he died of a ahemorrhage.”

Ms Leigh said in the fishing port of Estancia, “we saw several boats on the road and people still getting dead bodies in the sea.”

She said the smell was horrific and many of the churches lost their roofs in the typhoon.

Ms Leigh said hey saw people without homes in San Dionisio.

In Conception there were electric posts all over the road.

She said seven bodies will have to buried a second time as in the first attempt “they can only dig two feet, as the soil is very hard. 

“We were able to talk with Dr Minguez about the problem with people in the neighbouring islands.”

She said no one can reach them and there is no telephone communication as of yet. 

Ms Leigh said on one of the islands it is feared that everyone is dead.

“My apology... I can no longer continue… very heartbreaking.”

She said today’s survey showed how devastating it was. 

“People need roofs.”

She said many people were building shelter from plywood and bamboo.

“We will prioritize our families and members of the churches, and pastors, and if we have extra, we can also help more people so they can start building, even just very light materials.  With the food, DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) is helping.

“I have also a meeting with several pastors tomorrow so we can also help from our own resources, as these involve not only one community but the whole province of Iloilo, Aklan, and Roxas City. I’m so exhausted, not because of the long travel but for the victims who are so helpless. We just continue to pray as we share, we can minister the Word of God to them. We are so blessed to be a blessing. God bless you all.”