UPDATE, October 3
Praise God, none of Compassion’s church partners were damaged in the typhoon. Eight of the churches had to limit their programs immediately following the program, but are resuming normal activity. Forty-eight beneficiaries were impacted by the storm. Some were temporarily dislocated, while others’ homes were damaged. Praise God, no Compassion beneficiaries or family members were killed or injured in the typhoon. Our church partners are using our ongoing disaster funds to help families with initial recovery, relief and minor repairs.
UPDATE, September 17
Thank you for your prayers for the people of the Philippines. Our church partners are gathering information on the impact of the typhoon and are working with local government agencies to coordinate response efforts for affected beneficiaries and their families. We don’t yet have details about how beneficiaries have been impacted at this time. Compassion Philippines will keep us updated as they receive information, and we will contact you if we learn that your child has been affected. The worst hit provinces were Tuguegarao and Cagayan Valley where 18,100 people have sought refuge in evacuation centres assisted by the army and the government, and dozens were killed. Compassion does not have any church partners in those provinces.
Image source: BBC News
On early Saturday, Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall in the northern Philippines. The storm, with sustained winds up to 269 kilometres an hour, is the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. Compassion has 14 church partners in the northern provinces on Luzon island in the path of the typhoon. The capital city of Manila, where Compassion’s national office is located, is also on Luzon island, where Compassion partners with many more churches.
Storm surges and heavy rainfall can cause flooding and mudslides, which many of the homes Compassion-assisted children live in simply cannot sustain. Churches expecting an impact from Super Typhoon Mangkhut have implemented disaster plans and set up chains of communication for reporting any needs or concerns.
On Friday, 14 September at 7:30 am GMT, our Philippines photojournalist, Edwin Estioko, shared, “It’s bad now in coastal cities up north. Heavy rains are also expected in Manila and nearby cities and provinces, but not flooding, by God’s grace. The government and military are ready to provide support… It’s dark, windy and wet here in the capital city. I can only imagine the northern provinces.”
Typhoon Mangkhut is approximately 900 kilometres wide. Image source: BBC News
As always, rest assured that we will contact you if we learn that your sponsored child has been impacted.
Please pray with us:
- That God will protect the lives of all those in the path of Typhoon Mangkhut
- That communications will remain open despite the storm
- That help will be able to reach those in desperate need quickly and efficiently
- That government, non-governmental organizations and churches will coordinate effectively to respond to needs.
A church damaged in the deadly 2013 Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
In 2013, the Philippines experienced its most deadly storm, Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 7,000 people. At that time, Christians from all around the world stood in solidarity and helped with the relief efforts of our church partners. We ask that you once again stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Philippines in prayer and in generosity.
Disaster relief and recovery
Give to our Disaster Relief Fund, and we will make sure your donation goes toward the needs that our church partners have identified as most pressing in the wake of disasters.
Who is Compassion?
As one of the world’s leading child development organizations, Compassion partners with the local church in 25 countries to end poverty in the lives of children and their families. Today, nearly two million children and their families are discovering lives full of promise and purpose as they develop in all aspects of their lives—minds, bodies and relationships—while discovering God’s love for them in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
