World Vision responds to Philippines floods

World Vision is assisting thousands of people affected by flooding in the Philippines.

Around 60 per cent of the Philippines were flooded after 11 consecutive days of heavy rain. At least 66 people have been killed and around a million people affected by the deluge.

Although the waters are starting to subside, many people remain in emergency shelters and in need of basic items, including food.

World Vision staff member Jay Mijares said: “Hungry people wearing wet clothes are the usual sight in the evacuation centres.

“I was able to visit two evacuation centres filled with about 1,000 families who experience food rations only once a day.”

He was concerned that children had been out playing in the flood waters “unmindful of the consequences to health”.

The Christian development agency is distributing ready-to-eat food to 1,000 families and is expecting to provide food and emergency supplies to a total of 50,000 people in the Manila area.

World Vision’s national office has reported that all of the agency’s staff and sponsored children in World Vision-assisted areas are safe.