San Manuel Tribe Donates $1 Million to Typhoon Haiyan Emergency Relief
San Maneul Tribal Offices, near San Bernardino, California
SAN MANUEL INDIAN RESERVATION – The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, based near San Bernardino, California, has donated a total of $1 million to help the people of the Philippines in the catastrophic aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, known there as Typhoon Yolanda.
The typhoon hit the Philippines during the first week of November. The deadly storm left almost 4,000 people dead and countless homeless.
The recipients of this generous donation are the American Red Cross and International Medical Corps. Each organization will receive $500,000 to assist with the humanitarian aid efforts.
“A fundamental belief among Native people is caring for the welfare and well-being of people around the world. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians supports this belief and acts accordingly when calls for help come from around the world,” said San Manuel Chairperson Carla Rodriguez. “We are pleased to support the work of the International Medical Corps and the American Red Cross as they deploy their professional staff and resources to assist the people of the Philippines. We pray for their quick and full recovery.”
The Category 5 typhoon left widespread devastation, affecting 11.3 million people, including 673,000 that are displaced. Funds from San Manuel will support the global response to Typhoon Haiyan. Half of the tribe’s $1 million donation will be used for an immediate response from The American Red Cross to distribute relief items, repair and rebuild shelters, provide healthcare and ensure access to clean water and sanitation systems.
The other half of San Manuel’s donation will allow the International Medical Corps to recruit local medical volunteers to staff mobile medical units (MMUs) in and around the hardest hit areas. Through the MMUs, International Medical Corps will deliver health care services, with a special emphasis on child and maternal health; nutrition monitoring; medication; clean water; hygiene awareness and promotion; and psychosocial support and training for frontline health care workers.
San Manuel’s support will address both the short- and long-term needs of people affected by the storm. There is projected to be a high risk of maternal and neo-natal morbidity and mortality as many health facilities and birthing clinics have been destroyed or significantly damaged.
Approximately 8,000 births are expected in the first month alone. Support from San Manuel to the International Medical Corps will allow the relief organization to rapidly increase health services to meet the growing humanitarian needs.
The San Manuel Tribe is a federally recognized tribe and has contributed more than $70 million to charities since 2001. Through partnerships with charitable organizations and community groups, San Manuel honors the ancestral Serrano value of sharing with others.
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Levi Rickert, a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is the publisher and editor of Native News Online. Previously, he served as editor of the Native News Network. He is a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
that is real nice
Indian country needs water, toilets, money – everything. Tribes need to stop acting like whites – one million dollars is a lot of money in the Philippines, especially after the conversion rate. The money and aid will be stolen and hardly any of it will reach the people who suffer. Send the money to Indian causes instead. Stop stroking your egos and acting like whites.
Thank you to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for donating US$1 million to the American Red Cross and the International Medical Corps. I disagree with Kyle Bee for suggesting that donating and responding to appeals for aid to the survivors of typhoon Haiyan connoted passing or acting like whites. As someone who identifies of Philippine ancestry, I strongly believe that compassion and human kindness transcend color and politics. Lest we forget, when the harsh wind of nature blows, we all feel its power to propel or render us astray, wherever we are ensconced in our intricate, yet common, binding web called life. Blessings to those who share, and may peace come to the unquiet mind.
We are so grateful that there are people around the world who care and are doing what they can to lend a helping hand to our countrymen back home in their time of need. God bless you.
The Filipino people who survived the super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan appreciates your kindness and compassion. We are one people. Helping people in time of need is good karma and will come back to you. Thank you. Hanta Yo!