PHILIPPINES — It only takes a few minutes on social media to know when something’s not right. A notable hashtag may be trending on Twitter, your friends might have shared something on their Instagram Stories, or your feed on any platform could be full of “Pray for [blank]” statements and posts. As we grow in a world that’s seemingly shrinking in size thanks to the internet’s real-time updates, it’s not unusual to feel a heightened sense of concern over what’s happening on another part of the world we’ve never even set foot on. And all the more when it’s happening right here at our doorsteps, on our native land.
It’s both a blessing and a curse to have so much access to news from all over the world, especially in this past week where both international and local events have been running wild with political corruption, national takeovers, and natural catastrophes we seem to have no control over.
But, there’s always something to be done and learned. Whether it be from donations or spreading awareness, let’s talk about some of the biggest news from around the world this past week, what we can do to help from home, and what we can hopefully learn from it all.
Afghanistan
The Taliban, a militant group that seized Afghanistan in the 1990’s until the U.S. drove them out in 2001, has seized control over the country once again. One by one, Afghanistan’s provinces fell to the Taliban until it seized complete control when the Kabul capital collapsed, resulting to millions of citizens clamoring to get out of the country in desperate attempts. Several photos and videos circulated online of Afghans racing to the airport and hopelessly trying to get on a plane, no matter what it takes, in fear of the Taliban’s rule. Which, many citizens remembered, to be brutal and wholly dangerous, especially for women who were seen as a man’s possession without rights.
Several fund drives have been opened by on-the-ground NGOs in the country, and other concerned organizations we can donate to from home. Different goals include raising funds to buy flight tickets for families, supporting displaced families unable to go out in fear for their lives, donating to Afghan journalists who might particularly be seen as a threat by the Taliban, giving aid to women and children most vulnerable to attacks, and other causes to ease the humanitarian issue at hand.
The not-for-profit network Afghan Diaspora Hub has also curated a directory of verified organizations and several educational resources for more information: https://www.afgdiasporahub.com/
Haiti
An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude hit Haiti on Saturday, August 14, mere weeks since its President was assassinated on July 7. More than 2,000 citizens have been declared dead as of writing, but many believe that it’s much bigger than these early reports. Several buildings have collapsed due to the tremors, including essential medical hubs to the country’s fight against COVID-19. Currently, Haiti is amidst numerous devastations, including other earthquakes and typhoons years prior that it hasn’t completely recovered from. The government is also facing heavy political turmoil with the assassination, and lack of funds to take care of any repairs.
Some initiatives to support are SOIL, a long-standing organization that has provided essential supplies to the residents of Haiti since the 2010 earthquake that killed 300,000 people, World Central Kitchen which has tapped their local branch in Port-au-Prince to provide food in affected areas, and on-the-ground organization Hope for Haiti that distributes millions-worth of first aid supplies and medical equipment, to name a few.
Philippines
Earlier this week, the Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged over P67 Billion-worth of deficiencies in the Department of Health’s (DOH) management of pandemic funds. The state auditors emphasized that the DOH lacked documentation in various contracts and observed many irregularities in its procurement process, opening a wild discussion on the government’s inefficient pandemic response over the course of this health crisis.
Understandably, Filipinos are outraged at this discovery. Especially given the devastating way the pandemic has hit the country’s health sector, with many patients dying due to insufficient resources and support from the government. How many lives could have been saved with that P67 billion?
As a result, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has expressed his distraught on various interviews about the “accusation” from COA and the country’s reaction. To which President Rodrigo Duterte comforted Duque, and reprimanded COA for releasing these reports to the public.
What can we do? Spread awareness on the matter, and encourage eligible voters to go out and register to vote before September 30, 2021. So we could all exercise our right to vote at the national elections next year and support leaders who demand accountability, and rightfully protect our interests as a people.
New Zealand
In another moment that calls for “sana all”, New Zealand has gone on complete lockdown over 1 Delta variant-positive patient. The country has been the perfect model nation at tackling this pandemic since it started, with it being one of the first to completely reduce daily positive cases to zero and return to normal. Now that new variants are causing havoc once more, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has declared lockdown across the country as the cases surge to double digits. To aid affected businesses, families, and individuals, the government is rolling out financial support to help everyone survive the heightened restrictions.
New Zealand is a great model to follow for any country, but especially for the Philippines and our less-than-urgent response to rising cases and the financial plight of the working class amidst consecutive lockdowns. As we enter the last stretch of, yet again, another year lost to the Coronavirus, we can only hope that our officials would finally start to emulate the success of other countries, listen to researchers and experts, and tackle this pandemic head-on with the intent of truly ending it once and for all.
With everything happening in the world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, hopeless, and distraught. But, ultimately, learning about them could also open up realizations in our communities about proper governance, and how that could trickle down to every issue that a country could face. From terrorism to natural calamities, and from embezzlement issues to urgent crisis management, good leadership can make a world of difference.
As we prepare as Filipinos for the nearing election day in 2022, let us keep these issues in mind even after we’ve done our part to help devastated communities in other parts of the world, and within our own country. Most important of all, let us remember these events when making that all-important decision on who the next Philippine leader will be.