Photo via gsfc.nasa.gov

Philippine churches work frantically on relief for storm victims

Churches and church-based organizations in the Philippines are helping thousands of families, who have lost relatives, homes and other properties after a tropical storm unleashed torrential rains for nine hours, flooding Metro Manila and neighbouring provinces, reports Ecumenical News International.

As of 28 September, the government's National Disaster Coordination Council reported 144 people killed, four missing and 23 injured as a result of the storm "Ketsana" two days earlier, locally known as "Ondoy". It said the numbers of victims are expected to increase.

"We are concentrating on massive relief operations. The system is overwhelmed, local government units are overwhelmed," the disaster council's head, Anthony Golez, told reporters.

"We were used to helping one city, one or two provinces but now we were following one after another. Our assets and people are spread too thinly."

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TAGS: Philippines Philippine churches storm victims relief work storm "Ketsana"

[09/29/2009]

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