DAVID ADAMS speaks with Tim Hanna, chief executive of Compassion Australia, about the unfolding situation in The Philippines…
As efforts to bring aid to areas of The Philippines devastated in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan continue to gather momentum, Christian child development organisation Compassion is among those groups working at the coal-face.
The organisation has a team on the ground in the affected region which is addressing the immediate needs of people such as the provision of food, water and shelter as well as starting to look at longer term issues like rebuilding.
IN THE WAKE OF DISASTER: Top: Evidence of the destructive power of Typhoon Haiyan; Middle: Filipino volunteers load aid; Bottom: The damaged home of a sponsored child. PICTURES: Compassion
“It’s beyond what we can imagine. The news reports I’m seeing…it’s just flattened, it’s just devastation. Homes, buildings, infrastructure, communications, the lot has just been wiped out. Which makes it hard to get clear information.”
– Tim Hanna, chief executive of Compassion Australia
Tim Hanna, chief executive of Compassion Australia, told Sight that while communications with those in affected areas remains “sketchy”, the latest information from Compassion is that 106 out of 323 development centres the organisation has in the country have been affected.
“(W)hich means about 20,000 children and their related families are affected,” he says. “At this stage we have not reported any loss of life which is fantastic but, of course, a lot of people are displaced…”
Australians sponsor about 6,500 children in The Philippines and Dr Hanna says when they have all been identified, Compassion Australia will contact the sponsors to let them know the situation.
He says staff working on the ground there were saying “they’ve never seen anything like this before”.
“This…was three-and-a-half times more powerful than Katrina that devastated the southern US so I just can’t imagine. It over three times greater than…the storm that washed up the Pasha Bulker on the beach (in Newcastle). It’s beyond what we can imagine. The news reports I’m seeing…it’s just flattened, it’s just devastation. Homes, buildings, infrastructure, communications, the lot has just been wiped out. Which makes it hard to get clear information.”
The total devastation is also hampered relief efforts, cutting off roads and closing ports and airports which have been impacted. But Dr Hanna says the organisation’s more than 300 church partners in The Philippines have been helpful in helping to overcoming some of the difficulties.
“Often that’s the best way to deliver aid, to deliver help (via) the local church folk who are doing that…They’re already giving out immediate supplies as they’re being provided.”
Earlier this week, Noel Pabiona, country director for Compassion in The Philippines, said residents were fleeing from the affected cities.
“The situation in the areas totally devastated by the 315kph winds hasn’t improved much. Public transportation hasn’t been restored and people are desperately seeking any means to get out of these cities.”
“There are hungry and desperate people living in severely affected areas that have no water, food, power and means of communication.”
As well as receiving immediate relief from Compassion, children and families are receiving support from fellow Filipinos who are donating their own money to assist their neighbours.
“We were offered four small private planes to ferry relief goods to the air strips closest to the affected areas,” Mr Pabiona said. “Because of this help, we were able to send 1.3 tonnes of relief goods to children and families in Cebu’s Bantayan Island and Bogo.”
Further deliveries were planned.
Mr Pabiona thanked Australians for their support.
“Your kind words and assurance of support and this means so much to all of us here. Your prayers and words are fuel for the soul and keep the fire burning in our hearts as we face challenging and difficult days ahead.”
Meanwhile, Dr Hanna encouraged people to be praying.
“Bringing the whole needs of the nation – and particularly that part of the nation – and their needs before God and trusting in His provision, His protection, His healing,” he said.
“There will be people there who are suffering both physically and emotionally from this thing – the loss of a family member of the loss of a home of a community,. There’s tremendous need. So I’d be encouraging people to bring all of those needs before God for His provision, His protection and His healing.”
To donate to Compassion Australia’s Disaster Relief Fund, head to www.compassion.com.au.
