#GlendaPH haunts Haiyan survivors

Over the din of laughter of children and the general chaos of an evacuation center in Barangay New Kawayan in Tacloban, 10-year old Rojerick tries to catch the faint transmission from an old portable radio.   

Holding it up to his ear, he fumbles with the dial while keeping an eye on his younger sister lying on the mat beside him.  He shakes his head to indicate he couldn’t get a clear signal.

 When asked what he was listening to, he replies that he wanted to listen to the news about typhoon Glenda, the local name of typhoon Rammasun.

“I want to know if it will be a strong one,” he said. 

Never forget

His mother Analyn, 30, relates that he nearly died when water came into the evacuation center where the family took refuge. When the roof of the evacuation center was torn away by strong winds, Analyn and her husband scampered to another building.  But then the water came rushing into the center. In the confusion and panic, Rojerick was almost swept away by the current.  An older cousin grasped his feet and pulled him back to safety.It’s understandable that Rojerick would respond to the news of a coming typhoon after a horrendous experience from typhoon Haiyan 7 months ago. 

The family lost their home in the typhoon. They live now in a bunkhouse in a resettlement area in barangay New Kawayan.

The horrors of the past months continue to haunt Rojerick and his mother. They relive the nightmare of Haiyan every time strong winds make a rattling sound on the roof.

When news of Typhoon Rammasun came on the radio early this week, Analyn knew it was time to move again to safety. She started packing and got ready to evacuate.

Rojerick’s family is among the 57 families in the barangay New Kawayan evacuation center who received emergency kits from World Vision. Evacuees in nearby San Jose Elementary School also received blanket and hygiene kits.

They are among the hundreds of families who were preemptively evacuated by the city government of Tacloban since early morning of July 15.

It is unlikely that Analyn nor Rojerick will get a sound sleep at the evacuation center.  Rojerick says he will keep listening for news of the typhoon on his radio.

As of 4:00 am of July 16, the affected families returned to their temporary shelters. – Rappler.com

Karen Rivera is a communications officer of World Vision’s Haiyan response. World Vision distributed blankets, mats, mosquito nets and hygiene kits to the evacuees on Tuesday.