Visiting an evacuation center in the typhoon struck city of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, Raul Manuel, country director for Convoy of Hope, walks around survivors huddled closely on the cold, hard floor.
“There are thousands of people here looking for help,” he says as he assesses the needs in the region. “They are sleeping on the floor of these centers and their clothes are wet and dirty. Most of them lost everything they had in the flooding.”
After shipping 18,000 meals to the region, Convoy of Hope is now working with local relief agencies to continue providing support to the people in the affected areas.
“We’ve purchased relief supplies here on the ground and are beginning to distribute them,” says Manuel. “The biggest problem we are facing here is a lack of water.”
Raul says there is also a significant need for dry clothes, sleeping mats and MRE’s (meals ready-to-eat).
“We’re continuing to monitor the situation closely and will provide whatever relief we can,” says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope. “It’s because of our supporters and partners that we are able to do out part in this relief effort.”
