Relief materials at the Philippine embassy in Doha. Shaival Dalal
DOHA: An estimated 20 to 25 truckloads of relief consisting mainly of medicines and foodstuff are expected to be collected in a donation drive launched by the Philippine Embassy to help the typhoon-affected back home.
The drive has been launched in coordination with Filipino community organisations here, with the campaigners anticipating a larger turnout of donors at the embassy today.
“It being a Friday, we expect a much larger turnout today. The embassy will remain open throughout the day (today),” said Lyndon Magsino, from the umbrella body of Filipino community associations.
“The response to our campaign is overwhelming. Our phones keep ringing all the time,” Magsino told this newspaper yesterday.
He said based on estimates and intentions, he hoped some 20 to 25 truckloads of relief could be collected. Most people are donating medicines, bottled water, and food items such as rice, sugar and edible oil, among other things.
The donors, apart from Filipinos, are from different nationalities. “Today (yesterday), for instance, I got calls from a Sri Lankan woman, an Indian, two Britons and one American. They were all enquiring about how to make donations.”
This is aside from the response from Qatari people and businesses. A highlight is that many hotels, trading companies, a bank and other such establishments have been holding their internal donation campaigns for the cause.
Money and goods collected would be eventually handed to the embassy. “These establishments are closely coordinating with us.”
First shipments of relief are likely to be sent to the Philippines tomorrow, Magsino said.
Community sources, meanwhile, said there was a possibility that some consignments of medicines that were needed urgently in the typhoon-hit areas could be sent by air cargo.
There is likelihood a major airline could be requested to transport the stocks for free. “This is a humanitarian cause. There is an urgent need for medicines in the affected areas,” said a source.
Magsino said those desirous of making donations in cash or kind could contact the United Filipino Organisations in Qatar, the umbrella body of Filipino community associations, on welfare.reachout@gmail.com.
To a question, Magsino, a certified public accountant by profession, said that Filipinos were not quite used to insuring their homes against risks such as fire and natural calamities.
“They think it is an additional expense. But people are gradually learning from experience,” he said, agreeing to a suggestion that the latest devastation might create awareness about the importance of insuring homes. On an average, some 25 storms hit the Philippines every year. “This one was unprecedented,” he said.
The Peninsula
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