12/10/2009

Humanitarian needs in the Philippines remain great after Typhoon Parma pounded Northern Luzon on 3 October, affecting over 1 million people.

The incessant rains caused by Parma triggered landslides and widespread flooding that reportedly submerged 90% of Pangasinan and several other provinces. Homes were swept away and thousands of people were forced to evacuate. Just over one week later, roads are still impassable and power and communication lines are down.

"This is like déjà vu for the people of the Philippines. First Typhoon Ketsana and now Parma. We've seen the rain, the wind, the flooding, the landslides and now it's happening again," said Boy Bersales, World Vision's Emergency Response Director in the Philippines.

More than four million people have been affected by typhoons Ketsana and Parma.

"It's so sad to see so many people suffering. Children and their families are stranded on rooftops and sleeping outside. The electricity is out. Evacuation shelters are still overcrowded and food is becoming scarce. This has been the worst flooding we've ever seen in Northern Luzon. Our team is working overtime to try to meet the needs of the nearly 1 million people affected by the storms, but I'm afraid we won't have enough resources to meet all of the demand," Boy said.

To date, World Vision has reached 10,800 families in the worst-affected areas with food and non-food relief items.

World Vision also established six Child-Friendly Spaces, helping more than 4,000 children to regain a sense of routine and normality following the disasters. Ongoing assessments are being conducted amid concerns of health issues in the aftermath of both storms.

World Vision continues to appeal for funds as we work to respond to the needs of communities throughout the Philippines.

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