Life at the Family Rebuilding Center aka the Tent City poses a challenge to typhoon survivors who had to deal with the elements and the daily grind of sustaining themselves.
(CDN File Photo)
THE trauma of experiencing the full brunt of supertyphoon Yolanda’s devastation of their homes and communities returned to haunt survivors who were housed in the tent city based in South Road Properties (SRP) last Friday evening.
“They are still in trauma due to the strong winds caused by tropical storm Basyang because they thought that the water will rise,” said Vic Jay Gonzal of the Philippine Red Cross.
The tent city at the SRP is just a stone’s throw away from the sea. Gonzal is the officer-in-charge at the tent city known as the Family Rebuilding Center (FRC).
The survivors were moved temporarily to Cebu City Hall’s warehouse when Basyang’s rain and winds hit Cebu last Friday. A few insisted on staying inside their tents.
“But at 7:30 p.m., we really implemented forced evacuation of everyone to the warehouse because the tents were already uprooted by the winds,” Gonzal said.
There were even some survivors who asked Red Cross personnel if there was a staircase or ladder to the warehouse’s rooftop.
Gonzal said the survivors were afraid that a storm surge similar to what hit Tacloban City may happen again.
“Most of the survivors couldn’t sleep that night because of the fear that trauma they experienced when they were still in Tacloban might be repeated,” Gonzal said.
As of yesterday, all 54 tents housing one family each were already set up.
Cebu Daily News tried to interview some of the survivors but reporters were told by Gonzal that interviews with the survivors themselves are not allowed anymore.
Gonzal said they will still be meeting with the survivors regarding interaction with local media.
“There are some of them who say things to the media which are not entirely true, like they are not being taken cared of. That’s unfair on our part because if we’re not taking care of them, we wouldn’t be here in the first place,” he said.
The Family Rebuilding Center, which opened last Dec. 23, is initially expected to be good for only three months.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama earlier said he will have to ask the Red Cross if the survivors will extend their stay at the SRP.
Based on initial talks with the survivors, Gonzal said most of them want to stay here in Cebu for good. Some have already landed jobs in Cebu.
“We also have to consider the residents of Cebu City like fire victims, of course they will be the city’s priority. Nothing is final yet. We will have to consult it with our national headquarters,” Gonzal said.