Philippines: More than 800.000 people affected by heavy floods

Philippine Association of the Order of Malta provides emergency relief

Photo: Reuters/Erik de CastroPhoto: Reuters/Erik de Castro

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, more than 808,000 people in the capital Manila and surrounding cities are affected by the heavy flooding caused by the ongoing monsoon rains. Heavy rain brought by the annual monsoon, combined with a tropical storm to the east of the Philippines, has submerged large parts of the capital, displacing thousands of people.

The Order of Malta Philippines has started to pack food kits and further relief goods for about 2,000 people and distribute them at evacuation centres.
 „Relentless rains again this afternoon; streets that were already clear are flooded again”, reports Odelia G. Arroyo, Hospitaller of the Philippine Association of the Order of Malta. “Numerous people had to flee their homes and now stay in schools, gymnasiums and other evacuation centres. Many are hungry. They cannot go back to their houses in the short term.”

Malteser International has supported the Philippine Association of the Order of Malta since Typhoon Ketsana in 2009, providing trainings in emergency relief management and helping set up projects in disaster risk reduction, since the island state is constantly afflicted by natural disasters. The present floods are the heaviest ones since 2009 when Typhoon Ketsana killed about 460 inhabitants.