Today the leaders of ITF, ISWAN, ICMA, and others had a conference call to set some guidelines for cooperation and collaboration to assist seafarers impacted by the typhoon in the Philippines. We will continue to keep you updates as new information arises in this emergency situation.

It was agreed that ISWAN would be to coordinator of information, especially since it is likely they will receive many calls on the seafarer hot line. A poster is attached for you to broadcast he contact numbers whenever possible. SeafarersHelpLine number is 0080073232737.

AMOSUP, the Associated Maritime Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines are sending their training vessel tomorrow with UN aid and will remain for the coming months to offer assistance as needed. ITF will be letting all know what kind of assistance is needed for AMOSUP.

We agreed that in this current time of emergency anyone heading to the Philippines can result in more of a burden than assistance. Only those with international emergency training and credentials should consider going as even the government is unsure fo the scope of need and how to approach it. The Red Cross and others are on the scene and will inform all as the needs unfold. A sudden influx of concerned individuals can only mean other mouths to feed and people to support. When the time is right for assistance groups to arrive we will let all know.

ICMA will remain the coordinating contact among the member agencies and will work hard in the coming days to update the web site and directory to ensure emergency contacts are available for seafarers. Please check your listing and let me know if a change is needed, especially with regards to phone or email.

Here are some resources that might be helpful as you respond to questions from seafarers:

1)      SeafarerHelp will have a Tagalog speaker on night shift for the next 3 nights & also during the day. We can help with translation, etc. Contact details for SeafarerHelp attached

2)      People finder service via Google -

http://google.org/personfinder/2013-yolanda/ 

  3)     

4)      Reliable sources of news -  

http://mashable.com/2013/11/09/typhoon-haiyan-philippines-2/  

5)      Crisis map of the disaster -

http://google.org/crisismap/a/gmail.com/TyphoonYolanda 

6)      Alert Net - used by disaster relief orgsanisations - 

http://www.trust.org/item/20131111103501-zcekl/?source=hpagehead 

7)     

Communication is still an continuing problem, even with regards to knowing if family is well. We will continue to let you know as more information is known. However, at this point Mission to Seafarers and Sailors' Society are ensuring seafarers have free access to phone cards, SIM cards, and WiFI so they can check on family status. ICMA encourages all Seafarers Centers to make this available. Some are now working to secure some extra financial support if needed, but details are still incomplete. Personally I suggest that offering this aid will encourage funders in your area to see and realize the value of your center as they consider future support. This is a time to provide caring and extraordinary assistance at whatever cost.

Finally, if you have need of assistance, information, or support as seafarers contact you do not hesitate to email or call and I will do what I can to secure a solution.

The ten agencies agreed to connect again Wednesday, and regularly to ensure ongoing communication in assisting the millions of seafarers and fishers impacted by this event.

AOS and the Roman Catholics are already assessing needs for the long term. Sailors Society is equipping their chaplains world-wide, and Mission to Seafarers is in contact regularly with their contacts to see how we can all serve. The situation will change many times daily as people on the ground slowly assess the magnitude of damage and try to meet the immediate needs. As said before, this will be a long-term need. Our goal at ICMA is to keep all informed, primarily through these emails.

Loring

Rev. J. Loring Carpenter

Interim General Secretary

ICMA

Fr. Lito Capeding with AOS Mobile, Alabama contacted us today. He reports the following:

My former parish St. Michael, Basey Samar was devastated.  More than 300 killed and 2000 people are missing. Majority of the people were caught unprepared to the sudden rise of sea water (storm surge). People are in want of food, clean water and medicines. I talked to Archbishop Rodi and he allowed me a second collection on my Masses here at my parish @The Shrine of the Holy Cross in Daphne. I will be sending to the Archdiocese my collection so the Archbishop will send them to Bishop Isabelo Abarquez of Calbayog. Donations as well as prayers are most welcome.  

The good news my family is safe!

Fr. Lito Capeding  

AOS Port Chaplain

Mobile, Alabama