The Philippines

Really tough week re UK fund raising - it is Children in Need on Friday - I guess their takings will be down - and the Phillipines fund will not raise as much as they would have any other time either

Yes, apologies for nearly derailling the thread, which was primarily about effects, not causes. I was merely correcting an egregious error in the press which made it here too. I've not been to that area, I was on another island entirely, but the roads were not great at the best of times, so aircraft and helicopters from the US and HMS Daring will be very valuable. +1 for the Shelterbox tip.

Saw the Kirsty Young appeal tonight, looked at each other and decided not to send Christmas cards this year but send the money we would have spent on cards and stamps to the DEC appeal for starters.

DEC appeal is easier to donate to now it uses PayPal and mobile texts.

What a good idea gracesmum - as we head into this season of spending and consumption.
Before the storm hit we were hearing about how well prepared the Phillipines were for typhoons but it would appear that the government has totally failed to cope with the scale of the emergency.

I think I will never forget the young girl in the Phillipines pleading for water. The silent tears are the worse, and the almost total helplessness of those wandering what were once the streets. Why is it we can land men on the moon, but are unable to navigate supplies into a devastated area? Perhaps I am asking too much, and lots is being done behind the scenes but help does seem to be taking a long time.

I often think how lucky we are to live in UK. When you see how people suffer through extreme weather conditions, you realise that we have it easy. Yes we have storms and floods but nothing like the devastation in the Phillippines. Then there's the starvation in other countries. What made us the lucky ones?

wingnut I appreciate your apology for derailing the thread - I don't think you did, because you were merely setting the facts straight in this particular case, and obviously are concerned with the situation.

Yes, when DEC is the obvious vehicle for donations - easy and well focused. I've banged on about this and other agencies elsewhere, and am off bucket rattling tomorrow.

We are so very lucky...