Disaster Description
On December 17, 2011, Typhoon Washi (Bagyong Sendong) swept through riverside and coastal villages in northern Mindanao in the Philippines. Overnight, flash floods caused by heavy rains claimed more than 1,000 lives, with the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan particularly hard hit. Most of the casualties were women and children, swept away by flood waters that followed 12 hours of heavy rain.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared a state of national calamity as local health officials prepared to bury the dead in mass graves in an effort to prevent the spread of disease. In Cagayan de Oro, a city of 560,000 people, more than 51,000 people are now staying in 46 hastily-organized evacuation centers. Evacuees (especially children) are suffering from colds and flu, as well as inadequate food supplies, lack of power, and meager water supplies.

The Response
World Relief partners The Great Commission (TGC) and Balikatan People’s Alliance responded on the first day with rescue operations and evacuating survivors. They also collected used clothes, toys and other items for families, and provided counseling and children’s ministry.

Over the coming days, World Relief and these partners will coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Office of the Mayor to manage distribution of relief goods. Food and non-food items will be provided to more than 200 families, and children’s ministry volunteers will provide constructive activities for 1,000 young children in the shelters. In addition, trained counselors will offer assistance to 200 people who need help coping with the tragedy.

Food items include rice, fish, drinking water, noodles, coffee, and biscuits. In addition, cooking utensils, small charcoal stoves, toiletries, soap, towels, toothpaste and other essentials will be provided. Recovery is expected to continue through the holidays and into the middle of January.

Please pray for local church partners as they reach out with Christ’s love to grieving families and those who lost all their earthly possessions overnight. Children and the poor are particularly vulnerable during this time. 

Local Partners: Balikatan People’s Alliance; The Great Commission

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