For millions of people in South East Asia the past two months have been a living nightmare. Typhoons Ketsana and Parma devastated vast areas of Vietnam and the Philippines, and Indonesia has been rocked by earthquakes.

Only a few days ago, another typhoon, Mirinae struck the region leaving 7 people dead and destroying 2,000 homes in the Philippines alone. And although relief and aid are being distributed, the road to recovery will be long.

When reading about such disasters, it is sometimes hard to picture the situation, the emotions and reactions of the people involved. What would I do if my house was flooded, if I lost my business or even worse, a relative or a loved one?

The best way to understand the effects of these destructive events is by hearing what it’s like for those who have lived through them. Here are just a few incredible stories of hope and survival from the people we have encountered and assisted in recent months.

Le, 59, Vietnam

Le is a widow and lives alone. Typhoon Ketsana completely destroyed her house.

She has been fortunate to receive relief support from local authorities and individuals, including 500,000 VND (US$27USD). Her real dream though is to rebuild her home. For three weeks, Le has spent hours every day diligently collecting the left over bricks of her collapsed home. She says, “If I had enough money, I would rebuild my house and buy a cow.”

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Since typhoon Ketsana struck the Philippines on 26 September, our partner in Manila, the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE) has worked tirelessly to provide relief for the older people affected. They have done an incredible job, having given assistance to 1,815 older people from 35 urban and poor areas around Manila since the programme began on 13 October.

Let’s not forget that Ketsana has affected over 4 million people, damaged 42,000 houses and caused around 700 casualties. The need for relief is huge, yet COSE responded immediately and has helped countless older people.

The relief programme, partly funded by HelpAge and headed by the Task Force Ondoy (Ketsana) Relief Operations team, set up a focal point in COSE’s office from which to distribute relief packages. COSE staff, older volunteers from different older people’s organisations and student volunteers then sorted and repacked the donated goods which included rice, canned goods, used clothes and essential toiletries. They all gave their time willingly, showing great solidarity and spirit.

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In a time of hardship throughout South East Asia, HelpAge’s partner, the Vietnamese Women’s Union (VWU) have shown their incredible solidarity to all those affected by the devastating floods in Vietnam. The VWU staff, who total 28,000 across the country, have generously given up an entire day’s wages each for the emergency relief effort.

HelpAge staff have reported back from Vietnam about the fantastic and tireless work the VWU have been doing - the list is endless! They have:

• joined the local authorities’ rescue team

• helped evacuate people from dangerous areas

• joined local authorities to visit sites and provide relief

• identified and supported older people in need of housing, and given cash grants of approximately US$50 for repairs

• raised emergency funds from VWU staff donations of 1 week’s pay from each staff member

• distributed aid including food, clothes, medicine and water-purifying pills.

This list is extensive, but more still needs to be done to support local organisations’ emergency repsonses.

To read more about HelpAge’s relief effort.

To donate to the DEC appeal.

HelpAge’s rapid assessment report from Indonesia reveals the true gravity of the situation and the devastation caused by the earthquake which hit West Sumatra on 30 September.

The shocking statistics are contained in the latest provincial report from 8 October, indicating that the number of dead so far has reached 739, with a further 296 people still missing. The earthquake has reportedly destroyed 122,884 houses, of which 61,765 (50%) houses are in Padang District.

In addition, 55 schools and 231 government buildings were severely damaged. The total economic loss caused by the earthquake is estimated to be close to US$236 million, an extraordinary amount for a country so often battered by natural disasters.

HelpAge is working with partners, YEL and the Department of Social Affairs (DOSW), to provide swift and urgent provide relief and assistance to the five most affected sub-districts. The project will provide support in the form of cash transfers to 3,000 older people and their families. This amounts about 200 older people per village.

To read more about our relief effort.

However, there is much more that needs to done and recovery is likely to be slow as people struggle to cope with the loss of their homes, belongings and livelihoods. To help them get their lives back on track, we need your support.

To donate to the DEC appeal.

A statement from Ed Gerlock, the former Director of COSE (HelpAge’s partner in the Philippines) and current Advocacy Manager, reveals the unsafe conditions people are being forced to live in as a result of typhoons Ketsana and Parma.

“The government is worried about conditions in the schools and the stadium where refugees from the floods are staying. Most vulnerable, are the older people and the children. Neither schools nor the stadium were ever built to house the large number of people that now reside there and sanitation is a major concern. I have heard of outbreaks of diarrhoea, but the great fear is cholera, as we have had outbreaks in the past.

A number of people, including our own staff worry about tetanus because none of the water is clean and it is full of glass and barbed wire. Health wise, it’s a difficult time. This is in addition to the fact that the vast majority of people in the centres are poor people who, nutritionally speaking, are not in the best condition.”

To read more about our emergency response in South East Asia, click here.

To donate to the DEC appeal, click here.

CNN has reported on the very real threat of water borne disease in the Philippines, as the misery caused by typhoons Ketsana and Parma continues.

According to the article, Parma has affected more than 338,000 people, displaced 85,000 and killed at least 16. Its predecessor, Ketsana, has affected more than 3.9 million people, displaced more than 335,000 and left 295 dead. Manila has not seen rain like this for 40 years, leaving 80% of it submerged.

The present threat comes from the stagnant and infested rain water, which has been standing for 10 days. People are forced to wade through the flooded streets in bare feet or flip flops. Possessions and furniture are rotting and rubbish is blocking the city’s drainage and sewage systems. Much of Manila’s 6,700 tonnes of daily rubbish is dumped illegally on the streets and is now underwater. This is the same water in which children are playing.

Fears of water borne disease are very real and many residents are blaming the government for doing too little to help people in the clean up operation. It seems clear that although the relief effort is very much underway, the recovery of Manila will take a lot longer.

COSE, our partner in the Philippines has confirmed increased cases of water borne diseases, such as diarrhoea. There are also many cases of cuts due to wading through waters full of broken glasses, nails and broken furniture.  Also extremely worrying are the psychological issues which are inevitable as a result of loss on such a devastating scale.

To read the full story go to the CNN website.

For more information about our relief work in South East Asia and to donate to the DEC appeal, click here.