Emergency Alert - Updated March 20, 2012 BACKGROUND
A severe tropical storm struck the southern Philippines in December 2011, causing landslides and massive flooding on the island of Mindanao, where Lutheran World Relief is implementing a number of sustainable development projects. Two major cities in northern Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City, were badly hit, as were many surrounding areas. There have been 1,268 casualties reported and nearly 700,000 people have been affected, including more than 200,000 people who remain displaced in either evacuation centers or other temporary shelter situations. Long-term shelter remains a pressing need. More than 51,000 homes were damaged by the storm and displaced families lack information on their rights to relocation services and other forms of shelter assistance. Access to nutritious food, especially for young children, is also a concern. LWR local staff and partners have been directly impacted by the floods and at least one LWR project, which works with seaweed farmers in Hinatuan and Marihatag, experienced extensive damage. Families working with LWR to improve their crops and income saw their entire seaweed crop washed away in the floods. LWR IS RESPONDINGLWR and partners are responding in the areas of Surigao del Sur, Cagayan de Oro and Lanao del Sur. Thanks to a $31,500 grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, LWR is delivering water to 230 families in an impoverished area in western Cagayan de Oro through the end of March. Each family will receive 15 liters per person per day for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene, in accordance with Sphere standards, the generally accepted best practices in humanitarian response. Families will also receive jerry cans for water storage, and training on how to properly clean and care for the cans. And thanks to an $850,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, LWR is reaching out to flood-affected communities with emergency cash assistance to buy food, medicine and other necessities, as well distributing other critically needed items to flood-affected families. The grant will also support the provision of clean water, and longer-term work to rehabilitate livelihoods. With Habitat for Humanity Philippines, LWR will work to support more than 970 families, or 4,855 individuals in repairing and rebuilding houses damaged by the tropical storm. LWR is also working to provide technical disaster risk reduction training to local communities, with the goal of reducing potential damage to housing in future storms. This response is being implemented in conjunction with the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian response and advocacy. Families in Lanao del Sur will also receive LWR Quilts, Personal Care Kits and School Kits via LWR partner International Relief and Development. YOU CAN HELPLWR needs to raise an additional $250,000 to respond to this disaster. The most efficient and effective way to assist those in need is with a cash donation. LWR accepts gifts by phone at 800.597.5972, online at lwr.org/donate or by sending a check or money order to:
Your gifts will be used to respond to the Philippines Floods until needs there are met. Gifts received after that time will be used where needs are greatest. Thank you for your compassion. Please give generously. LWR also needs Quilts and Kits to respond to this emergency and others around the world. Please consider making Quilts and Kits to help stock our warehouse in Mindanao and enable us to respond to other needs in the future. |
