HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Ismael Aquino has been working diligently in the wake of the Philippines Typhoon, all while fearing for the safety of his family that he hasn’t been able to contact.
So far the Red Cross has deployed international delegates to assess the situation, sent a field hospital for the sick and injured and helped Canadians raise over 4.8 million dollars in funds, but Aquino says that’s just the beginning.
Read more: Tons of aid in Philippines, but not where needed
“Recovery is going to be very large in this particular situation,” says Aquino, the Nova Scotia Provincial Director and Atlantic Regional Director (Education) with the Canadian Red Cross.
“Four million people have been affected and 1,618 people have been displaced so there will be ongoing support needed for Canadians for the situation.”
Aquino’s job with the Red Cross is to help people in crisis, but now the crisis in the Philippines affects him directly.
Altogether Aquino has nearly 40 relatives living in the area.
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He is slowly tracking them down, but there are still close cousins with as many as eight children who he hasn’t been able to reach.
He fears they were separated by the typhoon.
“The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear this massive Typhoon that goes through the country, is ‘is it going to affect any of your family members?’ and being so far away and being helpless, it becomes very difficult to consider, especially when there’s no communication .”
Aquino has experienced similar circumstances when other family members living in Japan were cut off during an earthquake last year. It’s helped him to realize the best thing he can do now is his job.
“I think for right now it’s for me to just focus on what we need to do here in Canada, and for the Filipinos that are located here, just keeping on task and making sure we get the word out and making sure we send encouraging words to those around and back at home”
Aquino is staying in touch with his cousin in hopes of finding his family, but says he is optimistic they will be found safe.
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