22 October 2009

Two weeks since the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana, World Vision has sustained extensive and immediate relief operations, reaching 11, 500 families in inaccessible areas in Marikina, Pasig, Cainta, and other Rizal areas.

Ongoing relief pack distributions, which include food and non-food items, are continuing to assist the targeted 20,000 families in the critical areas.

“The relief packs World Vision provides to the families is intended to feed a family of five for up to two weeks and supplement the food provided by local government agencies. We would like the families to be confident that they have sufficient foods for two weeks. In that way, they can focus on attending to the other needs of their families and rebuilding of their homes,” said Filomena Portales, World Vision’s Advocacy and Communications director.

Meanwhile, with the onslaught of Typhoon Parma gravely affecting the provinces in Central and Northern Luzon, World Vision has extended emergency relief to an initial target of 3,500 families in the Cagayan area. Food rations were also conducted to address the immediate needs of some 200 families in Isabela and 300 families in Aurora.

World Vision Emergency Response teams are currently being deployed to assess the children and families in the affected towns of Calasiao and Sta. Barbara both in Pangasinan and in La Trinidad and Baguio in Benguet. Considerable damage to infrastructure and agriculture was sustained in these areas due to massive flooding and landslides.

To alleviate the impact of the disaster six Child Friendly Spaces have been established in Pasig, Cainta, Marikina and Ultra. Child Friendly Spaces provide a secure place where affected children may play, study and be given special care. World Vison was able to respond to the health, nutrition and psychosocial needs of around 4,000 affected children, while back to school kits were distributed to 1800 children.

As part of its two-pronged development approach of relief and recovery, World Vision’s is currently moving to the implementation of recovery programs to the affected communities of Typhoon Ketsana, while relief operations are being extended to critical areas hit by Pepeng in Northern and Central Luzon.

You can read about World Vision's relief efforts in the Philippines here.