Catholic charities rally behind Philippine recovery efforts
Farmer Josephine Dayag shows her corn plantation damaged by strong winds in the province of Cagayan Valley after Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall in the northern Philippines on Sept. 15. The Department of Agriculture said the typhoon damaged 1.22 million hectares of rice and corn. PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD ATRERO DE GUZMAN/GREENPEACE
Catholic humanitarian agencies from around the world have vowed support for Philippine relief and rehabilitation efforts in the wake of a powerful typhoon that devastated several northern provinces.
Caritas Internationalis in Rome has already launched an appeal to help finance relief operations for thousands of families affected by Typhoon Mangkhut.
“After the storm has passed people will need help to restore their livelihoods,” the Catholic aid organization said in a statement.
Typhoon Mangkhut, the strongest to hit the country this year, reportedly affected more than a million people in 30 provinces across the country.
Of the more than 264,300 families affected, at least 37,160 were displaced.
Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, said his organization is worried how families will cope over the coming weeks and months.
“Their income from farming and fishing will be drastically reduced, making it almost impossible for low-income families to repair their homes or even feed their families,” he said.
Father Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of Caritas Philippines, said ongoing relief efforts must empower communities to harness resilience and sustain long-term recovery. FULL STORY
