Dubai: The UAE’s Filipino community came together in support of people affected by Typhoon Bopha, which unleashed devastation across the Southern Philippines last week.
In a bid to ease the suffering of hundreds of thousands reeling from the storm’s impact, a fundraiser was organised yesterday by FilCom-DNE (Filipino Community in Dubai and Northern Emirates), an umbrella organisation, of all Filipino organisations in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah that are recognised by the Philippine Consulate General.
Over 120 members of the community attended a charity brunch at the Chelsea Plaza Hotel in Satwa, Dubai. They paid Dh50 per head for the buffet, with half of the sum going to the restaurant and half to the cause.
The Philippine ambassador to the UAE, Grace Relucio Princesa and consul general Frank R. Cimafranca also attended the event. The organisers were hoping to raise around Dh20,000 to be handed over to the International Federation of Red Cross, which will facilitate the aid transfer to families most in need.
“The response of the Filipino community in terms of sympathy and assistance towards our grief-stricken countrymen is so overwhelming and touching. On behalf of FilCom-DNE governing council, I express sincere gratitude and profound appreciation for the generosity shown,” Juvy Torres, chairman of events at Filcom-DNE, told Gulf News.
Many who attended the fundraiser also made separate financial contributions and donated bags of clothing, toiletries, and other necessary items.
The strongest storm in the Philippines this year made landfall in Mindanao Islan on the east coast on Tuesday. The official death toll due to the storm at press time yesterday was put at 418, with over 383 missing. Bopha also lashed southern areas of Mindanao and central regions forcing over 170,000 people into evacuation centres. Two provinces were left without power.
Due to the heavy rains, search and recovery operations have been halted in several areas. On an average, the Philippines experiences about 20 typhoons a year.
