FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Rivera
Catholic Relief Services
(410) 951-7399
(443) 604-2918
jrivera@crs.org
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES COMMITS $500,000 IN EMERGENCY RELIEF TO THE VICTIMS OF DEVASTATING STORM IN THE PHILIPPINES
Super Typhoon Durian could claim up to 1,000 lives,
destroyed homes and crops in 9 cities and 13 provinces
Baltimore, MD, Dec. 6, 2006 - Catholic Relief Services (CRS) today announced that it has committed $500,000 to to provide emergency relief and recovery assistance to the families affected by Super Typhoon Durian in the Philippines. CRS is working closely with Caritas Philippines, its local church partner, in assessing the damage, meeting immediate needs and planning for longer term assistance.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of national calamity after the damage caused by the powerful storm, which struck on Nov. 30 with heavy rains and wind gusts of up to 165 mph before moving on to southern Vietnam, where damage was less severe. Residents from the Marinduque province described the winds as sounding like a jumbo jet hovering above their rooftops.
As many as 250,000 families, which could include more than 1 million people, are suffering because of the typhoon. At least 600 people have been confirmed dead, with hundreds more still missing. More than 66,000 homes were destroyed and another 135,000 houses were damaged. Crops have also been devastated, accounting for 90 percent of the estimated $5 million in property damage.
Many of the dead are expected to come from the area around Mt. Mayon, a volcano located about 200 miles south of Manila. The rains triggered mudslides that buried entire villages. The typhoon hit as the Philippines was recovering from two destructive typhoons earlier this year.
CRS, in collaboration with Caritas Philippines, is already responding. Already, 900 bags of rice have been distributed by Catholic agencies. In one diocese alone, immediate assistance is being given to 4,000 families at a number of refuge sites. In addition, the agencies will distribute urgently needed supplies, including food, kitchen utensils, medicine and shelter materials such as blankets, mosquito nets and sleeping mats.
As immediate needs are being addressed, CRS and Caritas Philippines will prepare an assessment for the rehabilitation of homes and livelihoods. CRS is dispatching a team that will coordinate the effort to help affected residents restore their livelihoods.
HOW TO HELP:
Donate online: www.crs.org
Donate via phone: 1-877-HELP-CRS
Mail a check: Catholic Relief Services
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
Memo Line: SE Asia Natural Disasters - Philippines
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency provides assistance to people in 99 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed.
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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
