Latest ROPE Newsletter

[Go back]
[See Philippines's country profile]

Philippines - ROPEholder's life isn't easy
(March 2010)

Typhoon causes chaos

Last September, tropical storm Ketsana struck the PHILIPPINES causing massive flooding in Manila. At our ROPEholder's home the floodwater arrived at 11am. The level rose and fell, and at around 4pm it settled at around 8cm deep. Then suddenly the waters rose again and in less than an hour the house was under 76cm of muddy water! Many of their possessions were destroyed. Yet the family considered themselves fortunate as in other areas the water was much deeper. Less than 2 weeks later typhoon Pepeng devastated other areas of the country demolishing homes and other buildings and ruining food crops.

Starting again

Despite their personal situation, our ROPEholders set about helping those less fortunate than themselves. They coordinated a relief effort that was able to provide 100 families with their immediate needs. Parcels contained instant oats, coffee with sugar, creamer, corned beef, sardines, green mungo beans, dried fish, cooking oil, soy sauce and salt. Reports of sickness were received so the parcels also contained paracetamol, paracetamol syrup, tablets to prevent and treat diarrhoea, and vitamin C to boost immune systems. Latest reports are that new seedbeds have been sown and will soon produce a harvest.