The worst is far from over as Typhoon Parma batters Northern Luzon

Shortly after Typhoon Ketsana brought in a month’s worth of rain in just nine hours and caused almost all of Metro Manila and nearby provinces to be submerged under water, Typhoon Parma pounded Northern Luzon, and stayed there even longer, bringing in more rains and causing numerous landslides in the villages covered by the Cordillera Administrative Region, including many villages in Baguio City.

The incessant rains also caused massive flooding that, according to government and media reports, have submerged 90% of the province of Pangasinan and significant portions of La Union, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales and Bulacan.  Roads going to the north are impassable and power and communication lines are down. Over 10,000 families have evacuated to higher grounds after many homes and properties have been swept away by ravaging waters in the north. More than 230,000 families - 1 million people altogether - were affected and infrastructure and agriculture were destroyed, according to government reports.

"This is like déjà vu for the people of the Philippines. First, it was Typhoon Ketsana and now, Typhoon Parma. We've seen the rain, the wind, the flooding, the landslides, and now it's happening again," said Boy Bersales, World Vision's Emergency Response Director in the Philippines. "For me, as a relief worker and a Filipino, it's so sad to see so many people suffering. Children and their families are stranded on the rooftops and sleeping outside. The electricity is out.  Evacuation shelters are still overcrowded and food is becoming scarce. This has been the worst flooding we've ever seen in Northern Luzon. Our team is working overtime to try to meet the needs of the nearly 1 million people affected by the storms, but I'm afraid we won't have enough resources to meet all of the demand."

World Vision’s efforts to reach 100,000 people in Marikina, Pasig, Cainta and Rizal continue as challenges, likewise, continue to mount. World Vision Philippines emergency assessment team had travelled to Northern Luzon via helicopter with members of the Philippines' Coast Guard and other relief organisations on Saturday to assess the situation on the ground.  Most of the major roadways into Northern Luzon remain impassable because of the flood waters.

"I grew up in Northern Luzon. When I learned about the flooding there, I started shaking," said Diwa Aguino-Gacosta, communications manager with World Vision Philippines. "My sister, who also works for a disaster response organisation, said the water was up to the rooftops of most houses in our town.  Suddenly, I felt so hopeless.  My grandmother and many other family members still live there, but with the phone lines down, it's been hard to reach them and the roads are impassable. It's been very frustrating, to work to help others when I cannot help my own family. As soon as the flood waters go down, I'm hoping to travel to Northern Luzon and bring my family back to Manila."

To date, World Vision has reached about 10,000 families (about 50,000 beneficiaries) and provided them food and non-food items that are designed to support the food needs of a family of five for about two weeks. World Vision Philippines also established six Child-Friendly Spaces that helps to support the psychosocial needs of more than 3,000 children to help them gain a sense of routine and normality.

Right now, the World Vision Philippines team is also making ongoing assessments on health issues and concerns in the aftermath of both storms. World Vision Philippines continues to appeal for additional funding as it works to respond to the needs of communities throughout the Philippines.