World Vision delivers aid to Washi survivors

WV Philippines staff members are distributing food aid and other emergency items to families in the hardest hit village of Balulang in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

The emergency packs include ready to eat food, sleeping mats, blankets, toothpaste, toothbrushes and clean drinking water; with the latter proving to be the most precious commodity. Cagayan de Oro's pipelines were badly damaged in the floods leaving 70% without access to water. It's expected the damage will take more than a month to repair.

Currently, many survivors are either living in cramped evacuation centers or camping in the streets. They are entirely dependent on rations being handed out by aid agencies.

Thirteen-year-old Rosemarie's family home was devastated by the storm. She and her five siblings survived by climbing up onto the roof where they waited for several hours to be rescued. "Safety is my Christmas gift this year" says Rosemarie.

The death toll is continuing to rise, several days after Washi hit. At least 1,000 people have now been confirmed dead and countless more are still missing.

Washi struck in the middle of the night, engulfing homes and drowning people as they slept. The floodwaters rose phenomenally quickly.

In the immediate aftermath lifeless bodies were scattered throughout the streets. People panicked; trying to find missing family members amidst the mud and chaos.

World Vision aims to provide survival relief packs to more than10,000 families (50,000 individuals) in the coming weeks. It also plans to set up a number of Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) to provide affected children with a safe place to play, continue their education and access psychosocial support.

How can you get involved?

• To help with World Vision's relief efforts in the Philippines please donate to our Asia Pacific Emergency Fund.

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