Written by Lee-Anne Treetippitak
Typhoon Ketsana roared across the nation with flash floods and landfalls in several provinces.
Raging waters flooded Metro Manila in hours, resulting in an ever-increasing number of mortalities. According to the GMA TV news and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the death toll rose to 246 as of late Thursday, October 1, 2009.
42 remain missing while 5 are reported injured. The death toll is rising daily.
Flooding has caused billions in damages; the NDCC estimates P5.072 billion, including P 1.855 billion in infrastructure and P3.217 billion in agriculture. “At least 2,972 houses were destroyed while 2,228 were damaged. The typhoon has so far affected 626,625 families or 3,079,231 people in all regions of Luzon, Western Visayas, Regions 9, 12, and even the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).”
Filipinos Rise Up In the Face of Tragedy
Though the nation was unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude, Fairview Victory Church joined several public and private organizations in giving food and funds to Typhoon victims, and organized clean up missions in disaster zones half a mile from the ministry base. In the past week many Victory Church members have been volunteering their time to assist in areas affected by the storm.
Pastor Richard Conte noted, “As of 5:30pm today, (Friday, October 2), we’ve given 4,116 bags of relief goods! That's 4000 families who've been able eat! We're distributing not only food & used clothing, but new clothes, towels, bed sheets, flip flops & straw mats to sleep on, and some building materials too!”
Another storm is heading towards Philippines; Typhoon Pepeng (international name: Parma) approaches. Please pray for our team there as they prepare for the worst but believe God for protection.
By: Chay A. Erni
Please prayerfully consider how you can help in this relief effort. Donations can go through A&D World Missions, Box 26010, Lethbridge AB T1H 6H4 or you can donate online here or at www.continuummedia.com/give.html
Log onto www.victoryasia.com for details about Philippines.
