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Shirley T. Kimmayong, HEA Communications Specialist & Lanelyn Carillo, Advocacy Communications Specialist
Thursday, 01 October 200919:57
With barely less than a week after tropical storm “Ondoy” (international name Ketsana) devastated the country, another typhoon “Pepeng” (Parma) has entered the Philippine territory and is threatening the provinces in the northern part of Luzon.
Typhoon Parma entered the country Thursday morning with winds packed at 150kph and gustiness of 185kph. According to the Philippine weather bureau, Typhoon Parma has been gathering strength as it moves towards northern Luzon.
As of this writing, the Philippine weather bureau has raised alert in three provinces in the Bicol region, advising the residents in the low lying areas and mountain sides to take all appropriate measures to ensure safety. The typhoon has been forecasted to traverse the path towards Aurora and Tuguegarao provinces where two World Vision Area Development Programmes (ADP) are located.
“We have already alerted our ADPs regarding the approaching typhoon. Food aid is already pre-positioned and possible evacuation sites are being identified,” said Jose Bersales, World Vision Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs director.
World Vision, which has been doing relief operations in most affected areas of Manila (Marikina, Cainta, Rizal, Pasig) where thousands of poor families were submerged in the recent flood, fears that the new typhoon may affect more families and relief operations.
Volunteers have been crowding the World Vision Philippines office to help in the organisation’s relief operations since Sunday.
“This new typhoon is really a great challenge since this would really hamper and slow down our relief efforts for the families and communities who were left devastated by Typhoon Ketsana. Families are now just starting to pick up what was left of their lives and properties. Some communities remain submerged in floodwater. Now, I’m afraid that the heavy downpour leashed by Typhoon Parma would make it a lot harder for the affected families to cope and for the relief and development agencies to respond,” said Elnora Avarientos, World Vision Philippines national director.
Bersales said he is confident that World Vision Areas affected in Northern Luzon can handle the impact of the typhoon like in Camarines Norte.
“We will, however, consider all possible risks and prepare contingency plans so as not to compromise the safety of the staffs and volunteers involved,” he furthered commented.
“We really need to pray that the second typhoon will not bring so much rain like the previous one because of potential landslides. This will again increase the number of affected families and the evacuation centres are already packed to the brim,” elaborated Avarientos.
To date, World Vision’s ongoing relief efforts were able to reach close to 1,000 families. World Vision targets to bring aid to 20,000 families in Marikina, Cainta, Pasig and Rizal. On Thursday, World Vision is set to distribute relief goods to 86 families in Antipolo, and another 4,000 relief packs are scheduled to be distributed on Friday, together with the launch of the Child Friendly Spaces and a medical mission.
I WISH TO HELP!
World Vision in Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are aiming to raise funds to support the emergency relief and rehabilitation plans in Typhoon Ketsana floods that have swept across the nation, destroying the lives of many.
If you wish to help, please click here, and indicate that your contribution is for the Typhoon Ketsana floods in Manila. |
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