Tomorrow morning I fly out of Taiwan and head for Manila were I will assist with the relief and recovery work being carried out by The Salvation Army in the Philippines.At least 140 people have died, officials report, and more than 270,000 were left stranded in flooding after Typhoon Ondoy (localy known as Ketsana) battered The Philippines. The capital city, Manila, and surrounding areas experienced wind speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour and the heaviest rainfall on record.
The major Tumana and Marikina Rivers – which flow through densely populated areas in the northern and eastern parts of the city – burst their banks, triggering a rush of water that quickly submerged entire houses. Other parts of the country have also been badly affected.
The Salvation Army has been tireless in its attempts to assist in the emergency response. In Rizal, for example, a landslide and flash flooding killed 35 people and many were stranded on rooftops more than a day after the storm.
The Salvation Army is providing shelter for more than 30 families, and preparations are being made to transport supplies from Manila as all the shops have been swept away.The task seems overwhelming but Salvation Army teams are being mobilised to provide an initial response of supplying food, drinking water, blankets and medicines.
Lieut-Colonel Ron Clinch, The Salvation Army's Chief Secretary of The Philippines Territory, reports: "This is only the initial response. Many people have lost everything, even household items and clothing. Supporting families in re-establishing their lives will be the next stage, including the need to help with funeral expenses."
