Appeal to help Aeta fire victims in Porac

29 March 2012

Dear Fellow Advocates for Environmental Protection ,

We urgently request your much needed support in order to serve the basic emergency needs of 22 indigenous Aeta families affected by dreadful fire brought by accident in Sitio Patal-Pasbul, in Camias, Porac, Pampanga on November 28, 2012 at around 10:30 in the morning.

Houses and other properties (including livestocks) were totally devastated by a fire accidentally caused by the open flame due to unattended stove of one of the residents. Twenty-two families with 53 children aged 2 months-12 years (34 pax) and 13-30 years (19 pax) were affected.

Majority of the victims are poor Aetas with meager source of income from farming. Currently, they are temporarily staying in the designated evacuation center in their community. They all need immediate assistance (i.e. food, blanket, sleeping mats, clothes, cooking utensils, housing materials like nail, etc.) to tide them over as it will take some time before they may be able to recover from this disastrous event.

The CEDS and its local partner organizations in IPAMINGWA! are currently monitoring the situation and intend to share emergency food rations and non-food relief assistance to the affected families through a Relief Delivery Operations tentatively set on Monday (April 2, 2012) next week.

In this light, we appeal to you for any contribution you can extend for us to be able to deliver immediate and very much needed services to our unfortunate Aeta fellowmen. Any form of support (financial or material) will be highly appreciated.

For the environment and people,

Fr. ROLANDO DELEON

Executive Director

Center for Environmental & Development Studies (CEDS), Inc.