September 30, 2009

The Christian Reformed Relief Committee is working with local churches and disaster response teams in metro Manila to distribute emergency supplies to survivors of Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines. The Typhoon is one of four disasters to hit Asia Pacific in the last week, including a 7.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Indonesia early this morning.

Three Christian Reformed Church of the Philippines (CRC-P) congregations in Manila were affected by storm—reportedly the worst in 40 years, taking more than 240 lives so far. CRWRC-Manila office staff said Saturday that unaffected congregations and local Disaster Response Teams are collecting and distributing emergency aid to survivors and evacuees, including food supplies provided by CRWRC.

"Thousands of Philippine families have been severely affected by the storm," says CRWRC staff, Lem Rosselon from Manila. "People are in danger from the cold, from hunger, and from drowning and sickness. Many roads are still flooded but we are able to intervene, doing whatever we can to help save lives."

Volunteers from the churches, who have been working non-stop since last week, are packing bundles of cooked eggs, bread, pasta, canned goods, bottled water, clothing, blankets, matches and candles, and rice to give to hundreds of survivors.

"From mid-afternoon, sometimes until midnight, teams are dispatched to visit, bring relief goods, words of comfort, and pray with families from Pasig, Mandaluyong, Cainta, Makati, Antipolo, San Juan, Taytay and San Mateo," says a representative from Bread From Heaven Community Church in Mandaluyong. "We began on Sunday, and while we are exhausted, we are privileged to extend compassion and generosity to many who are in pain and suffering."

Although one CRWRC-Philippines Consultant was stranded in Los Banos over the weekend due to the storm, CRWRC staff quickly joined with local agencies to plan a coordinated response with the CRC-P churches.

CRWRC is seeking funds to respond to Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines. Donations can be made at online at http://www.crwrc.org, by calling 1-800-55-CRWRC, or by mailing checks designated "Philippines/Asia Floods 2009" to: CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Mich., 49560-0600.

To learn more about CRWRC's international relief programs, go to http://www.crwrc.org/.

To inquire about CRWRC Work Teams in the Philippines responding to flooding on Mindanao Island where CRWRC is building 15 homes in the next 12 months, go to http://www.crwrc.org/volunteer or email servicelearning@crcna.org.

CRWRC is a non-profit agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North America ministering to people in need around the world with relief, development, and justice.

Christian Reformed Relief Committee