Caritas Australia says support is reaching typhoon-ravaged communities across the Philippines but more help is needed as the number of people affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan continues to rise.
Just a month since the typhoon tore through more than 10,000 Filipino villages, Caritas Australia has distributed over 68,000 food kits; 8,000 sanitation and hygiene kits; and has provided shelter and clean water for almost 40,000 people living in the country’s worst hit regions.
But as 14.9 million people grapple with the aftermath of last month’s disaster, Caritas Australia says it befalls all of us to ensure that the relief effort continues long after the headlines.
“The number of people affected by this disaster amounts to more than half of the Australian population, and the devastation has displaced almost as many people as live in Sydney,” said Caritas Australia Humanitarian Response Team Leader, Melville Fernandez.
“It’s almost impossible to imagine destruction on this scale but Australia’s compassion knows no bounds. We’ve been overwhelmed by prayers and support from the Australian community and we’re humbled to have raised $3.8 million in the first month of our appeal”.
“On Friday I visited families in some of the worst hit areas in Leyte Province. Many have already benefited from shelter and sanitation kits provided by the Caritas network; it was inspiring to see the courage of so many as they begin to slowly recover from the devastation.”
Last week, Caritas Australia also spoke to Cris Lopera who had recently returned to his home town of Tacloban City – the capital of Leyte Province. The youngest of seven children, Mr Lopera has lost one brother in the disaster and another is still missing, presumed dead.
“When I returned, everything was destroyed; people were desperate. I hear that things are getting better now but people are still waiting, waiting for help from the outside,” said Mr Lopera.
“I cannot clearly describe how it felt to see the city completely wiped out, flattened. This is not the place where I grew up; those aren’t the streets I used to walk along. My school, my house – everything is gone. I can’t go back to the city where I grew up.”
As Mr Lopera’s family and millions like them wonder what lies ahead for their communities, support from the Caritas network is helping people to reimagine their lives after the crisis.
“There are people here who are really strong and many want to start all over again. People are willing to work and to help each other so we’re slowly getting back into life,” said Mr Lopera.
“Reconstruction is underway and I am so thankful for Caritas Australia and to the Australian community for giving their support and their prayers. Knowing that we can rehabilitate my city - that is where my strength comes from.”
Caritas Australia is a member of Caritas Internationalis, the world’s second largest humanitarian network. Working in partnership with the local Catholic Church in the Philippines, United Nations groups, local government and other humanitarian groups Caritas is providing emergency shelter; food, kitchen and cooking kits; clean drinking water; sanitation and hygiene kits; latrines and bathing cubicles; and cash-for-work opportunities to assist in community clean-up and debris removal.
Donations to Caritas Australia’s Typhoon Haiyan Emergency Response Appeal will help provide immediate humanitarian relief to those affected by the disaster and support our ongoing rehabilitation programs to help families rebuild their homes, communities and livelihoods.
[Donate online]9http://www.caritas.org.au/donate/online-donation?DonationCode=ATYPH13) or freecall 1800 024 413.
Media contact:
Angela Ford 0408 869 833 or media@caritas.org.au
A full transcript of our interview with Cris Lopera is available on request.
Melville Fernandez, Caritas Australia Humanitarian Response Team Leader, returned from the Philippines on 8 December. He is available for interviews about the Caritas response and his experience on the ground.
Photos of Caritas’ work in the Philippines are available on request.