TYPHOON ROLLY
FLASH UPDATE No.5
Philippines: Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) and Super Typhoon Goni (Rolly) As of 17 November 2020, 9 p.m. local time
“Situation Overview and Impact:
Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) wreaked havoc across Luzon on 11-12 November with more than three million people from 5,594 barangays in eight regions affected, according to latest government reports, with 283,656 people seeking refuge in 2,205 evacuation centers while 158,926 people are in home-based setting.
The country has suffered a triple hit, typhoons Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses in quick succession, causing the worst floods in recent memory. The death toll from Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) currently stands at 73, with 24 people reported injured and 19 still missing. Rescue operations are still ongoing as the waters are slow to recede, while at least 50 villages remain isolated. “
RESPONSE : Harvest for Christ Foundation Disaster/Emergency Assistance and Relief Teams (HFCF DEAR Teams) immediately started providing relief assistance in the Bicol region as early as the day typhoon Rolly left (Nov. 3) by providing relief packs and emergency assistance to families who have lost dwelling places (mostly lightly-built nipa houses). But typhoon “Ulysses” hit Bicol two days later (Nov. 5), halting our relief operations and further inflicted additional destruction, massive flooding/ landslides, loss of critical roads and bridges and power outage. “Ulysses” then proceeded to Central and North Luzon where it left a large swath of deep destruction and flooding.
After “Ulysses” exited the Bicol region, our DEAR Teams resumed relief operations despite region-wide power outage and limited land travel access. The worsening Covid-
19 situation further strained our already-stretched out operational reach. We have received contributions and donations (from both in the US and local organizations, churches and brethren), and so far have spent more than $ 5,000 but the widened scope of damage now includes Southern Tagalog, Central and North Luzon. We receive daily unending and urgent pleas for assistance from our churches and brethren all throughout Luzon now, and not just Bicol region.
UPDATE : We have distributed hundreds of relief packs to accessible towns and villages in Albay, Camarines Norte/Sur, and soon Catanduanes Island and Quezon province. We have started forwarding donations to Cagayan and Isabela. Likewise, the improving weather conditions and road access have allowed our DEAR Teams to start repairing and rebuilding church buildings and individual dwellings/houses.
We have submitted a request for a Disaster Assistance grant to the IDES (International Disaster and Emergency Services, Noblesville, Indiana) which have been our major partner and donor, but they too are burdened with successive requests for financial assistance worldwide. We anticipate a positive response from IDES by early December.
OUR APPEAL : Please continue praying for our churches, brethren and fellow-Filipinos who have been adversely affected by these two super-typhoons, that God’s right hand of mercy and grace will protect them from further harm, losses and sickness. Please join us in being a part of God’s answer to that same prayer by helping us:
- Provide emergency relief packs to an additional 1,000 needy families affected
- Help repair and rebuild damaged or destroyed church buildings and individual houses/ dwellings and provide stronger materials.
- Provide emergency medical aid/assistance to families who have suffered significant medical and physical injuries.
Our original goal for typhoon ‘Rolly’ assistance fund of $ 5,000 (from US donors) has been met (praise God!) and has been totally distributed to our DEAR Team coordinators who oversee the assistance projects onsite. Now, we need to raise an additional $ 3,000 to help us meet the revised goal which now includes typhoon ‘ULYSSES’ assistance funding. IDES expects us to raise this ‘counterpart’ funding as a pre-requisite for their disaster assistance grant.
The following options are available should you be moved by the Holy Spirit to donate for this urgent need:
- 1) Though our website at < https://harvestforchristinc.org >. Our donation link makes use of Paypal, which secures all information. Donations by credit or debit cards are accepted.
- 2) Through ‘Zelle’ fund transfers (available through major United States banks). Please transfer to the account ‘Harvest for Christ Foundation, Inc.’ and use our email address ‘david@harvestforchristinc.org’. Donation through Zelle transfers go straight to the Harvest for Christ Foundation, Inc. Chase bank account.
- 3) Through a check donation, payable to “Harvest for Christ Foundation, Inc.” (please indicate in the memo line ‘Typhoon Disaster Assistance’) and send to our mailing address at: PO Box 520391, Flushing, NY. 11352
Since HFCFI is a 501-c-3 (not for profit) organization, all donations and contributions are tax-deductible, and all donors will receive a statement of 2020 donations by early February, 2021.
Gal. 6: 9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
