World Vision responds to Typhoon Ketsana floods in Manila
By Shirley T. Kimmayong, Humanitarian Emergency Assistance (HEA) Communications Specialist

World Vision is launching relief operations today after an unprecedented rainfall brought by Typhoon Ketsana caused flooding all over Metro Manila and nearby provinces, affecting thousands of people yesterday. It was packed with maximum winds of 85 kph and gustiness of up to 110 kph.

“People’s houses were submerged in just a matter of few minutes, giving them no time to secure their food and belongings. There is a need to respond,” says HEA Director Jose “Boy” Bersales. World Vision initially conducted a call and text brigade to check the status and needs of the staffs in flood-affected areas.

He adds, “We are prioritising food aid assistance* to 100 flood-affected staffs here in Metro Manila as the government is providing initial relief to other affected persons. This will last them for two to three days.” World Vision guards, messengers and janitors who are impacted are also beneficiaries.

“The flash flood has risen rapidly. In five minutes, it reached the second storey of our house. We have no option but to go to our roof,” says Erwin Sisracon of Marikina City, one of the staffs who will receive the relief goods.

He continues, “We were not able to secure our belongings, not even food. We focused on saving the children, especially the baby.”

In the second level of their house, the floodwater reached up to their chest. Their clothes were drenched with rain except the baby who was cradled in an opened umbrella.

“My mother and grandmother were shocked as this is the first time this has happened. We were really frightened as we watched the water level rise. The whole village was submerged in minutes,” he says.

“I prayed and prayed and prayed. I feel weak, I have not eaten since 11 o’clock yesterday morning and so hasn’t my family. All I can do is draw strength from God for He alone can save us,” says Sisracon who was on his rooftop for more than twenty hours. Their cell phones served as their light throughout the night as there was no electricity.

Meanwhile, Bersales, together with several staffs, visited flooded areas, including Sisracon’s place but were not able to enter his village as the flood had not subsided. Government search and rescue efforts are still ongoing for Sisracon and other residents still trapped on their rooftops.

“We are continuously monitoring the situation in the affected areas. In fact, we have set up a 24-hour operations centre since Saturday,” says Bersales.

Bersales adds, “Today, World Vision will deploy an assessment team to assess the damage and impact caused by Typhoon Ketsana as many villages were submerged with floodwaters.” World Vision will also coordinate with Local Government Units (LGUs) for possible relief operations that will complement LGUs’ initial food distribution as there are thousands of people affected.

Government reports have declared 86 people dead, and hundreds of thousands affected. Twelve evacuation centres have been set up in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to provide assistance. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro declared a "state of calamity" in 25 provinces and cities - giving local governments quick access to emergency funding for their respective rescue operations. In Metro Manila alone, 45 villages were flooded while 37 road sections are not passable for light vehicles.

Plane flights were cancelled, with up to 1,806 stranded passengers in total. Communication signals are erratic and power lines are still down in some areas making the ongoing search, rescue and relief efforts difficult. Stranded cars along the roads have also caused difficulty to rescuers.

Though tropical storm Ketsana is now outside the country, it is still expected to bring rains over the western sections of central and southern Luzon and Visayas, which could potentially worsen the situation caused by the southwest monsoon.

The country has more than 20 typhoons a year, and at times, has up to two or three typhoons in a month.
 

*Food aid consist of the following: 1 bottled water (5 litres), 12 packets of noodles, 6 cans of sardines, oatmeal, 1 packet of biscuits, 6 cans of corned beef, 5 kilogrammes of rice, 1 pack of instant coffee, half a packet of brown sugar, 2 cans pork and beans and 1 chocolate drink.

I WISH TO HELP! World Vision Philippines aims to raise funds to support the emergency relief and rehabilitation plans in Typhoon Ketsana floods in Manila. If you wish to help, please click here, and indicate that your contribution is for the Typhoon Ketsana floods in Manila.