TACLOBAN, The Philippines — With the death toll rising past 5,235 in the weeks after super-typhoon Haiyan hit hard here Nov. 9, the storm ranks as the deadliest disaster to ever hit the island nation. Along with widespread death, an estimated 4 million people were rendered homeless — close to the total left homeless by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and the earthquake in Haiti in 2009 combined.
In the race to provide life-saving food, water and medicine to that huge population — which includes well over a million children, many who are injured, sick, hungry or otherwise at risk — relief organizations are facing enormous logistical challenges.
Along with the sheer numbers of those in need (only a bit less, for example, than the 4.6 million population of the Republic of Ireland), the massive storm destroyed much of the affected islands’ communications and transportation infrastructure.
Veteran production manager Charlie Hernandez, whose organization Just a Bunch of Roadies (www.justabunchofroadies.org) helped move $2 million worth of medical equipment from Project C.U.R.E. into Port-au-Prince, Haiti and delivered it directly to hospitals run by Partners in Health within weeks of that Jan. 12, 2010 disaster, sent an email outlining the steps now being taken in the Philippines as well.
Along with the opportunity to support the group’s efforts by mailing a check to Just a Bunch of Roadies (attn. Lori Tierney, 3001 E. Mississippi Ave., Denver, CO 80210, 303.722.7145 and 303.564.7135), Just a Bunch of Roadies worked with the Alpine Institute to create a link to a secure PayPal site that “will go directly to our cause and assist in providing essential supplies to people in need,” Hernandez noted. “Please note PayPal charges a service fee of 2.4% on average for this convenience.”
The link is here: http://t.co/BNEuBAasjv.
Just a Bunch of Roadies (JABOR) has consulted and collaborated with The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) on how to best respond to the needy in the Philippines, Hernandez noted, adding that JABOR is going directly to manufacturers via the Minnesota Health Hospital System for donations (or at least discounts) on bulk purchases for antibiotics.
These potentially life-saving supplies will be distributed via CMAT (the Canadian Medical Assistance Team), who have also offered their support in quickly handing and distributing the medical goods to where they are most needed through their network of clinics and partners, Hernandez noted.
“With the help of Upstaging Transport Trucking and Rock-it Cargo, and CGI, we are looking at the option of trucking materiel from various points in the United States to wherever there is an aircraft available, re-palletizing it, and then with local Philippine charter aircraft assistance, helping to make the deliveries to Cebu and Tacloban,” Hernandez noted, adding that Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has “the most lift to Manila.”
Hernandez also noted other efforts JABOR is taking to clear a path and expedite the flow of donated and discounted goods along with relief personnel.
“We are checking with Philippine airlines and other commercial carriers on westbound and eastbound aircraft for donated pallet space through CGI and AIRLINK,” his email noted.
“We are looking at open seating donations from airlines for MD transport to aid in coordination with Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières both from West Coast and Europe embarkation points through CGI and AIRLINK,” he added.
“One of our relief partners, Project C.U.R.E. (www.projectcure.org) has in place immediately available disaster response sea containers of medical supplies that can go sea bound. Project C.U.R.E. has contacts with Child Fund and IRD (International Relief & Development; http://www.ird.org) who have workers on the ground who can get supplies moved and distributed.”
Hernandez also included details that underscore JABOR member’s experience in dealing with practical logistical realities.
“We have access to temp pallets that can go on cookie sheet so freight would not sit on tarmac and [be compromised by] water damage, quick deployment transfer to smaller aircraft/ AN12, etc.: http://plastic-pallets.oneway-solutions.com/viewitems/all-categories/rackable-pallets
“We can then move sterilization equipment/ immediate Project Cure shipments on commercial space made available to us. We have the ability to palletize in Chicago; CGI and their partners would receive the freight ready-wrapped, which will expedite our ability to dispatch air cargo.”
Hernandez noted that damage to the airport serving Tacloban remains a logistical obstacle nearly three weeks after the typhoon struck the region. “The control tower has no windows and is only operational by hand-held radio and flight control; clearances are only through Cebu,” he noted.
“The object here is to maximize our efficiency through solid air slots and door-to-door logistics like we had in Haiti,” Hernandez continued. “That process is all about the advance preparations and logistics we are implementing here.”
Despite progress in getting aid to the needy, logistical challenges remain. “This morning in Cebu they are literally pushing back AN12’s by hand on to the tarmac after unloading,” Hernandez reported, in an email sent on Nov. 20. But he added that the situation is improving. “We are at the point where we can begin logistical operational movements within 48 to 72 hours.”
