Philippines Typhoon: Baby Born Among The Debris Brings Hope To Many

The Philippines Typhoon has brought tragedy and devastation to many, but a little baby girl has brought hope to many. Emily Ortega, 21, and her baby girl, Bea Joy Sagales, are making news because they brought some much-needed light into a devastated city. According to ABC News, “the birth gave residents and military medics who assisted in the airport delivery a much-needed smile in a city where officials estimate thousands are dead.”

“Her birth was near miraculous — her mother was in an evacuation center when the storm surge hit and flooded the city. The mother had to swim and cling to a post to survive before she found safety at the airport. Her husband in Manila was unaware of what has happened.”

ABC News stated that the Philippines Typhoon has affected 4.5 million people and displaced at least 478,000 according to The United Nations World Food Programme. The storm has left so much devastation in its path, the city of Tacloban has had to declare a state of emergency and has had to set a curfew to help battle the increase in looting.

Authorities have estimated that the death toll could reach well above 10,000 as rescuers continue to survey areas that were hardest hit by the storm. Officials in the Philippines say it could be weeks before they know the full extend of the damage and causalities of Super Typhoon Haiyan.

Richard Gordon, head of the Red Cross in the Philippines, told ABC News that resources are now reaching people: “Slowly but surely we’re getting in and we’re also clearing the area of debris so that our people can go in. We’re doing everything we can to get to the victims very, very fast.”

The Honolulu Star-Advertise goes on to say that cheers broke out in the typhoon-devastated airport of the city of Tacloban when Ortega gave birth to the little girl. The report continued on to say that Bea Joy Sagales appeared to be in good health.

[photo credit: mansunides via photopin cc]