Central Philippines was first lashed by Typhoon Durian in late November, and then blasted by Typhoon Utor in December. The torrential rains not only caused massive flooding, but unleashed deadly mudslides from the volcanic slopes of Mt Mayon, killing hundreds and displacing 200,000 people.
Working with the Social Action Centre (SAC), which is affiliated to All Churches Together (ACT), MR relief teams provided aid to over 800 families in Legaspi City. The teams set up mobile clinics to service further 500 villagers and conducted milk nutrition programmes for the infants, children and the elderly. To support the Mental Health Department, the team carried out a psycho-socio programme for 200 children by providing stationery and art materials.
From relief workers to Santas, the MR team brought much cheer to 700 children in 3 evacuation centres on Christmas Day by distributing gifts and celebrating Christmas with them.
For rehabilitation, MR funded the re-roofing of a school building comprising 3 classrooms to be used as temporary housing for 150 internally displaced people (IDPs), and engaged the locals in the construction work under the “cash for work” programme. When normalcy returned, these shelters were converted into classrooms for 90 students. MR also provided 10 water filtration systems to the affected villages to ensure that the community has long-term access to safe drinkable water.
In recognition of the Singapore team’s efforts, the City’s Department of Health and Centre for Health Development awarded a certificate of commendation to MR. MR’s efforts in the Philippine.
About Mercy Relief
Mercy Relief is a Singaporean humanitarian organisation which engages in both disaster relief and sustainable development programmes. It was established in 2003 as an independent non-governmental humanitarian charity responding to the human tragedies in Asia. Mercy Relief’s aid programme focuses on providing timely and effective assistance to disaster-stricken communities and has maintained the delivery of emergency aid within 72 hours from the point of appeal for assistance.
In the past 12 years, Mercy Relief has disbursed over S$32 million in aid across 40 disaster relief and 53 sustainable development initiatives. Mercy Relief has impacted an aggregate of 2 million lives in 24 countries and areas, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Yemen.
For more information, you may call us at 6514 6322 or email corporateaffairs@mercyrelief.org
