Nevadans Walking for Philippines Typhoon Victims

Rajan Zed has urged public to wholeheartedly support the victims as the need was massive and immediate.

Courtesy: rt.com

(RENO) - Students and others are holding "Walk for Philippines Typhoon Victims" starting at University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) on November 24 in support of the victims of deadly super-typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), one of the most powerful ever recorded on land.

Hindu Statesman Rajan Zed

It is organized by GienieMae Camacho Oquendo, who heads the "Nevadans Helping Philippines Typhoon Victims", and backed by distinguished religious statesman Rajan Zed. Various campus and outside-campus organizations are supporting this “Walk” effort, which will go through the UNR campus and Virginia Street touching the campus after starting from Joe Crowley Student Union at ten am.

“Walk” organizers will be reaching out for contributions to help the victims. A Condolence Book will be opened for the public to sign at the start of the “Walk”, which will begin with lighting a lamp and invocation by Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism. Organizers have requested participants to wear white t-shirt to show support to victims.

Rajan Zed has urged public to wholeheartedly support the victims as the need was massive and immediate.

Sapian in Capiz province of Philippines, which is part of the damaged area; are affected by this typhoon. Until recently, she was a Senator in Student Government of Truckee Meadows Community College; and now she is a freshman at UNR, aiming at accounting major.

According to a report of Philippines government, which has declared it as a national calamity, 3633 people are reported dead by this typhoon in central Philippines but the death toll estimate is 10,000. Report suggests that 12487 were injured, 1,179 missing, 287,199 houses damaged with this typhoon which brought winds up to 195 mph; affecting over nine million people in 9,303 barangays in 44 provinces, making many homeless, and costing damage worth about US$22 billion.

Reports add that in some cities/towns, 90% of housing has been destroyed with this typhoon, which struck November eight and left a trail of devastation and brought waves as high as 45 feet. In Tacloban, one of the worst affected towns at the center of the storm, bodies remain unrecovered on the streets. There were reports of public digging up underground pipes in a desperate search for drinking water. Widespread devastation is making it difficult to determine the full extent of the damage and some islands are completely flattened and reduced to piles of debris. This region was still reeling from the Bohol earthquake in October and Haiyan’s impact could slow the entire Philippines economy.