Philippines
MARCH 2010 UPDATE:
The following letter was received from Mother Joan Clare of the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor in Manila:
The Manna-Pack Rice Meals of this wonderful shipment provided sustenance and survival for the many ravaged people in our outlying districts of the Poor Provinces in Bicolandia. One of the areas we service and minister to, regularly. The Mt Mayon Volcano was erupting and spewing ashes, and the government exhorted over half a million to evacuate to the schools which were safe areas in case the eruption took place. Many of the people were unprepared for such a move. The ashes and lahar were causing coughs, asthma, colds, etc, and the crowded areas of the evacuation Centers were without food, and medicines. Thanks to the kindness of Feed My Starving Children and Feeding The Nations many lives were helped, families fed and many people brought back into the mainstream of life again, after the danger point was over. May God reward your efforts and bless you abundantly.
Mother Joan Clare Chin Loy, cfsop
Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor
Naga City 4400, Philippines
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2009
Two typhoons in just a few weeks' time have hit the Philippines, unleashing severe
flooding, widespread homelessness and starvation. Houses and entire neighborhoods have been swept away. In the aftermath, garbage lines the streets and mud coats everything in sight, creating unsanitary conditions, causing over 3 million Filipinos who have been affected to fight daily battles with water-borne diseases and starvation. More than 700 people are dead and countless displaced. With so much rain the agricultural loses are expected to reach an estimated $400 million and this will have a large impact on the food shortages and prices.
In the aftermath, garbage lines the streets and mud coats everything in sight, creating unsanitary conditions. Those displaced have turned to relief shelters, but with such an extreme demand, shelters are far beyond capacity and resources. Many have had no choice, but to resort to building make-shift dwellings. Though the people of the Philippines want to rebuild and move forward, they must first meet their own immediate needs and fight daily battles with water-borne diseases and starvation.
Hearing of such struggles and dismay, Feeding The Nations immediately began gathering food to send as quickly as possible. Our hope is to send at least 120,000 pounds of food.
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