World Vision distributed food and relief items to 1,000 families yesterday in the critically affected areas of Malabon and Baseco in Metro Manila. Distributions will be ongoing and will assist some 50,000 people.

“In spite of the challenges due to heavy rains, we were able to push through with the distributions today as we see the urgent need to provide instant food relief to families that have been stranded and starving for more than three days,” says Mimi Ochavillo, World Vision staffer from Luzon, in the Phillipines.

Julianne, a 10-year-old from Baseco says she is "happy munching the biscuits because it tastes good. Thank you for this blessing”. It’s the small things that make all the difference in a time like this. 

World Vision emergency assessment teams were deployed to affected areas on Wednesday 8 August. A large part of Malabon and other areas of Metro Manila don’t have water and power supply is not yet fully restored. 

The death toll impact of Typhoon Saola has reached 100 according to the Philippines national disaster management authority. It is reported that 460,200 people have been evacuated and nearly 2 million people affected.

Evacuation centres have been set up in 51 schools according to the Department of Education. (Numbers supplied from The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council)

Intermittent rains continue to pose a challenge and raise concerns as floodwaters remain unstable. Some of the flood zones are slowly receding while stagnant waters have remained in hard-to-reach areas. 

“Up to now, some areas can only be reached by makeshift boats. Challenges in looking for suppliers of relief goods were also raised as local businesses were also affected by the floods,” added Ochavillo.

The Philippines government has mobilised search and rescue services and is supporting evacuation centres and health posts.

World Vision aims to assist some 10,000 affected families who have been displaced by floods brought by unabated monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Haikui’s presence this week.

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Support for the Emergency and Preparedness Fund enables World Vision to prepare for emergencies by pre-stocking and positioning life-saving supplies and ensuring trained staff are available to be on the scene quickly to respond to emergencies.