We at Down Under Visa have a lot of clients with loved ones and family members in Leyte and other parts of the Visayas in the Philippines who were affected by Typhoon Yolanda (aka Typhoon Haiyan) last week. Many of you sadly have not heard from your loves ones and don’t know if they are safe or not.

Please do not try to be a hero! Please do not try to get to the disaster areas to try to search for them! 

There are professionals there right now, with more to follow, ie. disaster specialists, military, medical personnel, etc. These areas are sometimes lawless and in a state of anarchy. There’s a lack of food and safe water and shelter. If you go there, you will become part of the problem! You will then take resources away from those who already need them.

If you want to do something, donate to the Red Cross. http://www.redcross.org.ph/donatenow

Here’s a link to the people finder that Google have set up: http://google.org/personfinder/2013-yolanda/

And to those with any Faith, prayer is highly underrated. Try it.