World Vision reaches out to hundreds of typhoon victims

|PIC1|More than a million people fled the destructive path of the typhoon as it pummelled the Philippines, Taiwan and south eastern China last week, killing at least 34 people.

Up to 1,000 people are still missing after a landslide buried the village of Shiaolin in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung county. The landslide hit the village after 2.5m of rain fell in just 24 hours last Friday. In the city of Wenzhou in China, a four-year-old boy was killed when his family’s house collapsed in heavy rain.

World Vision has distributed food, cleaning supplies and relief kits containing essential items like toothbrushes and towels to 700 people living in emergency shelters in Taimali Township and Jiadug Township in Taiwan.

“The most pressing needs now are providing shelter, food, and clean water for those who have had to evacuate their homes. We also want to make sure the children are secure and have a safe place where they are cared for," says Hank Du, Executive Director for World Vision Taiwan.

World Vision’s Southern Area Office Manager, Wesley Chen, said many of the people affected lived in remote areas where the roads have been badly damaged.

“Highways and bridges are flooded and blocked by mudslides, fallen trees and other large debris. For those who can't reach shelters, we are working to find way to bring aid to them," he said.

World Vision said families and children in its programme areas that were still accessible were safe, although many of their homes had been damaged or completely destroyed. It said, however, that it was yet to find out the status of communities living in the remote mountainous areas that are still cut off from aid workers.

It is aiming to raise around £500,000 to provide relief and rehabilitation support to families affected by Typhoon Morakot.

Mr Du said: "We pray the floodwaters will recede quickly so people can return home and begin the recovery process.”