(ANS - Cebu) – Now, in the Philippines, after the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan, it is time to count the damage and the relief needed by all those who in various ways have been affected by this calamity. The Salesian Mission Offices have sprung into action in support of the operations to help the people.

The devastating typhoon has left nearly 10,000 dead, 2,000 missing, 600,000 homeless and a total of 10 million people affected in some way.  About four million children have been deprived of their family. Gradually, as the hours pass by, we can understand better the enormous extent of the tragedy and the needs of the population.

Donations are urgently needed to get food, water and other life-saving supplies to the victims. Since the Salesians were already working in the affected communities, they were able to begin responding immediately.

The 266 Salesian missionaries operating in the country are currently all engaged in coordinating aid to the population and providing first aid to the needy. The Salesian Houses in Cebu were chosen as the Official Help Center,  in cooperation with the National Crisis Management Unit. 25,000 emergency kits have already been distributed from there.

Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, Salesian Bishop of Maasin writes: “By God’s mercy and loving care my diocese had been spared from great destruction. A parish church has been damaged at the roof. We have mobilized our faithful for help for our neighboring dioceses. We have no electricity till now and for the coming weeks. Fuel is in limited supply. Food is still available in the local market. For now, we try to gather from our faithful as much help as we can to extend to the neighbors in dire need”.

“Salesians were on the ground and able to respond immediately,” said Fr. Mark Hyde, executive director of Salesian Missions, referring to the fact that Salesians have been working to help vulnerable children and families in the Philippines since 1950. “But they need additional help and we are responding to that call.”

In this regard, see the websites of the Don Bosco Foundation, the Salesian Volunteers for International Development (VIS), Mission Office in Madrid and the one in New Rochelle.

Published 13/11/2013