Caritas-member countries, ‘Yolanda’ survivors join hands for Typhoon Lando relief ops

 At least four Caritas Internationalis member countries have already pledged its support to the on-going relief operations being headed by the Philippine Catholic Church for victims of Typhoon Lando (Koppu).

In a statement, the Catholic Church’s social action arm, the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines, said that among those who pledged its support are Caritas Germany with P2-million, and Caritas Spain with P2.5-million.

The Catholic Relief Services (Caritas USA) and Cordaid (Caritas Netherlands) also contributed P2.12 million, and P2.32 million, respectively.

“These amounts would surely go a long way in helping those in need of immediate assistance, especially as many typhoon affected-communities have yet to receive humanitarian aid. To all Caritas-member countries, our heartfelt thanks again,” NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez said.

The priest said they expect more pledges from Caritas-member countries in the coming days as the relief operations continue.

Meanwhile, survivors of Typhoon Yolanda from Palo, Leyte also took part in the Church’s on-going response to Typhoon Lando.

Gariguez said staffs from the Archdiocese of Palo Relief and Rehabilitation Unit (Caritas Palo) volunteered to participate in the rapid needs assessment in Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan, which are among the provinces worst-hit by ‘Lando’.

“We really appreciate how dioceses previously affected by Typhoon Yolanda immediately flew here to immediately respond to the needs of the people in Northern Luzon. The spirit of Alay Kapwa is truly alive during these trying times,” he said.

This is not the first time that Typhoon Yolanda survivors helped victims of other typhoons. Last year, they were also among the first to send relief aid to nearby Samar during the onslaught of Typhoon Ruby.     

NASSA/Caritas Philippines earlier launched an emergency appeal to the Caritas Internationalis confederation to provide P13.21-million worth of relief aid to 25,000 people in 15 provinces affected by Lando.  These are the provinces of:  Aurora, Quezon, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Qurino, Nueva Ecija, Kalinga,Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, Rizal, Cavite, Batanes, La Union, and Abra.

A ‘Lando’ Monitoring Center was also established at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines office in Intramuros, Manila. 

The global Caritas Internationalis with 165 member countries worldwide is currently being headed by its first Asian President Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. 

Reference:

NASSA/Caritas Philippines

PRESS RELEASE

October 22, 2015

JING REY HENDERSON

Communications Manager

Humanitarian Unit

NASSA/Caritas Philippines

(0905) 546-9977 / 527-4163

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

NASSA/Caritas Philippines

Humanitarian Unit

CBCP Compound, 470 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila

02.527.4163 / 0905.546.9977