Typhoon Relief Under Way to Affected Families on the Philippines

"CBM and its local partners are busy helping thousands of people affected by the typhoon", says Mike Davies, CBM’s Regional Representative, who visited one of the affected regions on Monday, 4 December. A few days after typhoon Durian devastated large parts of South-Eastern Philippines on December 1, the death toll has risen to over 1,200. Three partner organisations of CBM have immediately started their emergency relief efforts to clients and their families in Albay and Batangas provinces on the main island of Luzon.

Two of the affected CBM-supported projects, Simon of Cyrene and Holy Face, are situated at the foot of Mount Mayon volcano, which unleashed millions of tons of rocks and mud. More than 500 people are dead, and more than 700 others reported missing, and presumed dead.

CBM’s partner Simon of Cyrene Foundation, under the auspices of Amy Bolinas, is currently working with volunteers in the worst-hit area around Mount Mayon in Albay province, concentrating relief efforts in nine villages. CBM funds of 5,000 Euro are used for the provision of food packs to 3000 families, with 3 kg rice and canned food each, together with sleeping mats, essential clothing and toiletries. A community kitchen serving porridge every morning to families in the evacuation centres. From next week, in consultation with the local authorities, the partner will also start installing water tanks and generators in some of the emergency shelters, where displaced survivors are likely to remain for some months. The partner reports that there is a big need for post-disaster psychosocial rehabilitation in the longer term.

Holy Face Rehabilitation Centre for Mental Health situated in Tabaco city with clients in Santo Domingo, reports substantial damage to the roof of the residential unit. CBM’s regional office in Manila has provided 5000 Euro for urgent repairs and further assistance to clients’ families.

In Batangas province, South of Manila, CBM’s partner NORFIL Batangas supports affected persons with disabilities and their families in rebuilding their houses. One of them is Maria (not her real name), a mother of four children, one of whom is multiply impaired. Maria is an unpaid volunteer of NORFIL, helping other mothers with disabled children to care better for them, and to provide basic therapeutic exercises to the children, to prevent contractures, or to navigate and walk safely, or to get into schools. The partner has received 5,000 Euro so far from CBM, to be able to assist Maria’s family and other affected people in Batangas region to rebuild their homes. "Maria said, once her house is rebuilt, she will go back to work, helping other families with disabled children", reports Mike Davies, CBM’s Regional Representative, who has visited Batangas region on Monday, 4. December.

The devastation typhoon Durian caused, has affected over 1,500,000 people. 250,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged. About one-third of the coconut plantations - the area's main commercial crop - have been destroyed. Hundreds of kilometres of power lines are down. Needs for psychosocial rehabilitation and services to people, who lost limbs and have become disabled due to the current disaster, is becoming obvious, as more and more reports reach CBM’s regional office, and its partner organisations’ headquarters in Albay and Batangas provinces.

Read more: Massive mudslides caused hundreds of deaths on the Philippines - CBM partner launched relief efforts and needs assessment

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Further information: Asia News Website