Relief for Mudslide Survivors in the Philippines
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 The destructive
force of the mudslide buried a village with an estimated population of 1,875.
 In addition to handing out disaster relief kits, OBI provided dinner for 475 evacuees. Feeding programs and disaster relief activities remain ongoing.
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GUINSAUGON, Philippines - As search and rescue efforts continue for an
estimated 1,800 people in Southern Leyte, an island in the Philippines, Operation
Blessing disaster relief teams are working quickly to provide much-needed
assistance to survivors and evacuees.
“We have now identified 638 families in two evacuation centers and 100 families
living in two churches whom we will be giving personal needs like toiletries and
blankets, kitchen utensils, clothes and medicines,” said Dr. Kim Pascual, OBI
Regional Director for the Philippines.
OBI teams have been on the ground since Saturday, just one day following the
collapse of Mount Kanabag that buried an entire village, including an elementary
school, within minutes. Those who did survive were villagers doing business in the
nearby town or who were able to run to safety, said Pascual.
Vicente is one such survivor. He arrived from Manila two weeks ago to help at
his father-in-law’s farm located near the village.
“He was at the farm with his father-in-law when it happened,” said Pascual. “He
turned and saw the rocks and mud flowing and was able to run on safe ground. But he
lost his wife and three kids.”
OBI is responding to the need by providing meals and disaster relief kits filled
with toiletries, blankets, shoes and other basic necessities to survivors. They are
also mobilizing local churches to provide trauma counseling in addition to
other emergency relief efforts.
How You Can Help Similar to the devastating tsunami of 2004 that wiped out entire villages in a matter
of seconds, the recent Philippines mudslide was also quick and destructive, burying an
entire village within minutes. With other mountains posing threats to neighboring
villages, hundreds of Filipinos have been forced to evacuate to nearby churches and
centers. Help be a part of OBI’s outreach to victims of disasters by
making an online donation today!
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