Tropical Storm (Category 1) Ketsana a.k.a. Ondoy, landed in Luzon on Saturday morning, 26 September, bringing over 400mm of rainfall within 6 hours, causing severe and deadly flash floods (water level 6 feet) in 25 provinces and cities. As at 0600 hrs on Tuesday, 29 September:
- almost 2 million people have been affected
- nearly 300 confirmed dead
- 400,000 evacuated to more than 600 evacuation centres
- 80% of Metro Manila is flooded and other areas in Central Luzon have been submerged
Ground response status:
- Search and rescue phase as many people are still stranded and trapped in and at their houses
Force of the tropical storm
The Philippines government has declared a state of calamity and has made an appeal for international aid. Mercy Relief has obtained its fundraising permit from the Commissioner of Charities and will be collecting donations for the victims of the ‘South Pacific Tropical Storm’ in the Philippines from the 29 Sep-18 Oct 2009.
MR’s response:
- monitoring situation since last Saturday evening
- since yesterday, MR has been in close communication with our existing partners SIKAT (development project partner and also partner for MR’s last medical relief mission to Zambales last month) and Gawad Kalinga (one of the largest NGO in the Philippines)
- US-based humanitarian NGO Direct Relief International has contacted MR to provide medical supplies through us
- Mercy Relief has informed the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on our response plans.
Following this, MR is preparing to send a preliminary team together with the first batch of relief items over the next few days. As it is important now to address the most immediate and basic needs of the victims- which is to keep them fed, hydrated, and warm, Mercy Relief will be sending the following relief items, which will be dispatched and distributed by the preliminary team:
- 10,000 packs of rice sticks
- 3,000 packs of porridge to the very young, sick and elderly
- medicines (painkillers)
- blankets
- water purification tablets
From the 1st of October, the public can donate via the following donation modes:
Tele-Mercy
1900 112 1010 (for a $10 donation)
1900 112 1050 (for a $50 donation)
Cheque
Crossed to ‘Mercy Relief’ and write ‘South Pacific Tropical Storm’ on the reverse and send it to 160 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh #01-1568 Singapore 310160
ATM Transfer / Internet Banking
To Mercy Relief’s DBS Current Account 054-900493-6
The plight of the victims
