Philippines: CPP calls for mass mobilization, international support for relief operations

18 November 2013. A World to Win News Service. Following is a 9 November media release from the Information Bureau of the Communist Party of the Philippines. (ndfp.net) For more on typhoon Haiyan, see "The typhoon in the Philippines... and the destructive unnatural forces of imperialism" in the 14 November 2013 issue of Revolution (revcom.us) The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today extended its sympathies to the millions of people affected by super-typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), which ravaged provinces in Eastern and Central Visayas, in Panay, Negros, Masbate, Mindoro, Palawan, and other islands, as well as in areas in Eastern and South Eastern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and provinces in Southern Luzon. At the same time, the CPP called for mass mobilization across the country and abroad to generate emergency supply and funds for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts. The CPP called on ''people in the areas least affected by the storm to extend maximum possible help to the people who are most in need of emergency assistance.'' Yesterday, tropical storm Yolanda barrelled across the Philippines, leaving a wide swath of destruction. Yolanda is considered to be among the strongest typhoons ever to hit land, and one of the most powerful of storms over the past 30 years. The CPP said that among the areas which were devastated by the strong winds are revolutionary base areas which are within the scope of authority of the provisional revolutionary government, and in the areas of operation of the New People's Army and other revolutionary mass organizations. The CPP also pointed out that many of the areas ravaged by the typhoon were those recently hit by powerful earthquakes where people were most vulnerable to the strong winds and rains. ''These areas are among the most impoverished in the entire country, where the majority are poor peasants, unemployed farm workers, small fisherfolk and indigenous peoples,'' said the CPP. ''They have long been abandoned by the reactionary government and will not be among its priorities for assistance.'' The CPP said it is still awaiting detailed reports from its local committees, as well as mass organizations and NPA units in the areas.