FILIPINO nurses living in East Lancashire are urgently seeking funds to help the millions of victims of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.

Noneth Perocho, John Quimpo and Dolores Consolacion, who all work for East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, have already sent money to their communities on Panay Island after the typhoon swept across the Philippines last Friday.

They are among several individuals and organisations in East Lancashire taking action to provide essential items such as shelter, water, food and medicine.

So far at least 10,000 people are feared dead and 4.5million displaced across the most badly affected islands which include Leyte, Samar, Cebu and Bohol.

On Monday the Lancashire Telegraph reported on the planned relief efforts of Colne Disaster Aid UK worker Ed Cox, who flew to Bohol to help those affected by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake which struck on October 15.

And one former East Lancashire resident living on the island, David Carter, has told relatives that the effect of two natural disasters had been ‘devastating.’ Royal Blackburn Hospital medical nurse Noneth Perocho, who lives in Burnley, said that most of her rural community in the province of Iloio had been ‘swept away’ in high winds and floods.

She said: “Only a few houses are left because many were built out of bamboo and wood.

“Fortunately my parents’ house is still standing but it’s been flooded and other family members and residents are sheltering in the school’s gymnasium.

“People are getting desperate so we urgently need to send funds direct rather than going through aid agencies who have not yet been able to make contact. We fear if we send it through agencies help may not arrive until it is too late.

“People should be assured that all money donated will be given to families and local authorities to help them get supplies.”

Noneth moved to Burnley in 2002 with her husband Alfred and children Adriel and Jamelia.

Along with John, a surgical nurse at Burnley General Hospital, whose parents and sister live in Aklan and Dolores, who comes from Capiz, the three nurses have already sent £298 via their families to help other villagers.

Darwen takeaway owner Angela Lee, who runs Lee’s Cantonese Kitchen, in Sudell Road, is donating £1 from every meal bought to help reach her appeal target of £1,000.

She said: “It just gets me every time I see the people who have lost their livelihoods and their families.”

Nelson-based Muslim Global Relief is also fundraising with Christian Aid North West while Clitheroe Rotary Club will take to the town’s streets on November 16 to raise money for Shelterbox.

Donations to Panay islanders can be made by calling Noneth on 07815865902 or John on 07967 778305 and to other affected regions via Muslim Global Relief’s website at muslimglobalrelief.org, by texting PHIL20 £5 to 70070 or calling 01282 604055.