Philippines Disaster Response 2013

On October 15th, 2013, Bohol, an island province located in the Philippines experienced an earthquake measuring 7.2. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported 222, 8 missing, and 976 injured. More than 73,000 structures were damaged, of which more than 14,500 were totally destroyed.

It was the deadliest earthquake in the Philippines in 23 years. The energy released by the quake was equivalent to 32 Hiroshima bombs.
On November 7, just 3 weeks after the quake, Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) struck the region. Although the storm’s eye missed the area affected by the earthquake, it sent some 40,000 Boholanos still living in temporary shelters back to evacuation centers and disrupted relief efforts in the province.

There was a huge international response to aid the people of the Philippines in their time of need. Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) responded with an immediate release of $250,000 of aid to the disaster. Lions Clubs of Ireland responded by organising major fund raisers. All these funds were routed through LCIF which directed the funds directly to the people in need through the Lions Clubs in the Philippines.

Thurles people responded very generously to the plight of the Filipinos. An emergency bucket collection was held on the weekend of November 16th, 2013. A total of €11,500 was collected for the cause.