World Vision Response

Latest updates Nov. 12

World Vision emergency relief supplies have arrived in the Philippines and more are on the way from World Vision global distribution points. Bad weather, washed out roads, and power outages are slowing relief efforts.
 

The greatest challenge is clearing roads and restoring power and water supplies for displaced families. “It’s us against the clock as we try to provide them with the necessary aid that they need.” says Aaron Aspi, a World Vision communications officer. 

“We saw lots of children begging for food and water. When you look at the mountains, they look bare and stripped of all vegetation,” Aspi recalls. “There is massive mourning over loss of lives. It’s difficult to see people crying and in shock over this catastrophe.”

Among the first load of supplies:

  • Blankets
  • Tarps
  • Shelter kits
  • Food
Dozens of World Vision staff from the Philippines and arriving from World Vision offices around the world are arriving on the scene to begin relief operations. More World Vision staff will arrive over the coming weeks and months to help survivors with recovery.

World Vision is dedicating $20M to help an estimated 400,000 people throughout the hardest-hit areas of the Philippines. Many provinces suffered incredible devastation. World Vision works in 10 provinces of those provinces with about 20 community programmes.

When a disaster like a typhoon, earthquake or flood hits, World Vision responds quickly with life-saving emergency aid, and then we stay for the long term to help families recover and rebuild.

 
As quickly conditions allow:
  • World Vision staff closest to the disaster assess the severity and need
  • World Vision global rapid response team travels to the disaster area and begins providing disaster management and relief
  • World Vision pre-positioned relief supplies are transported and distributed from strategically-placed World Vision facilities
  • World Vision distributes emergency aid and relief to disaster survivors
  • World Vision stays in the area long-term to help families recover by providing basic needs, safe places for children, healthcare, and economic opportunities

Learn more about World Vision disaster response programmes

World Vision is launching one of its largest relief operations in five decades of ministry in the Philippines to help nearly 400,000 people affected by the disaster. The organization is seeking to raise $20 million for this effort.

More than 500 local staff members are mobilizing to help provide food, blankets, mosquito nets, tarps, hygiene kits, and emergency shelter. Child-Friendly Spaces will help children cope with the emotional impact, play in a calm, safe environment, and catch up on missed schoolwork.

Assessment teams struggled to clear roads as they tried to reach families in more remote communities.

“Devastation is immense. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Aspi says. “Families were told to leave the danger zones to higher ground, but with the magnitude of this typhoon, even some of the evacuation centers were washed out.”

The storm affected more than 35,000 sponsored children in 21 development project areas where World Vision works, including Bohol, which was badly damaged by last month’s earthquake. U.S. donors sponsor more than 5,600 of those children, in Leyte and Antique.

Josaias dela Cruz, World Vision national director in the Philippines, appeals for a compassionate global response. “Please continue to uphold in prayer our responding staff and the suffering people in the Visayas and other typhoon-stricken areas. Now is the time to join our hearts, extend our helping hands, and work together to rebuild and uplift our fellow peoples’ lives.”