URGENT HELP NEEDED FOR DISASTER RELIEF IN THE PHILIPPINES

Who: More than 800 registered children and staff in the Philippines

Where: Across 144 districts, some with established child development centres

What: Help provide disaster relief for all Compassion staff, registered children and their families, affected by flooding.

Current reports estimate that close to 2.4 million people have been impacted by recent flooding in the Philippines. Waters started to rise following heavy downpours in late July, brought through by Typhoon Saola. So far, more than 31,000 homes have been damaged across 144 districts, including Manila. Some are homes of Compassion staff, and Compassion assisted children and their families.

An estimated 800 registered children are thought to have been affected by the flooding, but the full extent of damage is not yet known. Turbid waters, chest-high in some areas, have made it too dangerous for Compassion staff to compile an accurate report.

On Monday 6 August, the Compassion Philippines office, as well as local schools, universities and government and private offices, were closed due to the flooding. The floods have affected communication, electricity and municipal services. Some areas are still underwater.

Compassion staff, and registered children and their families, are in urgent need of your help. (Please note: Compassion Australia will contact you if your sponsored child has been directly affected.)

Donating to the Disaster Relief Fund will provide urgent relief for flood victims. Any money raised above the need will bring immediate aid to Compassion assisted children affected by future disasters.

When you donate to the Disaster Relief Fund, you help Compassion provide vital assistance that helps restore families decimated by disaster. Your gift helps to provide:

• Emergency food and water, temporary shelters, personal items, cooking utensils, trauma counseling and spiritual support
• Replacement clothing, school supplies and household items; supplies a family needs for earning income; continued counselling and support.

Please pray for the children, families, staff and churches that are suffering at this time.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” — Acts 20:35 (NIV)

A few important notes: Be sure to check the website regularly in the months after as well for an update on how the project has made an impact. If more than the target amount is received, it will be used for similar projects through the Critical Interventions Fund. (Check out what it does here).