Tearfund’s emergency response to Typhoon Rai continues

Millions of people in the Philippines have been affected by this catastrophe. Read the latest update from our team.

Written by Agnes McGrane | 14 Jan 2022

More than 500,000 homes have been damaged by the powerful storm. Credit: Tearfund partner

Super Typhoon Rai (known as Typhoon Odette locally) caused widespread destruction as it swept across the southern islands of the Philippines in December 2021. More than 400 people have died and hundreds of thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed. Millions of people are now in urgent need of food, clean water and sanitation facilities, shelter, and medical supplies.

Tearfund and our local partner, PHILRADS, were amongst some of the first NGOs to respond to the disaster. We updated you in December about our relief efforts in the affected areas, and the work is ongoing.

Getting support and supplies to those who need them most hasn’t been easy. Some of the affected islands are far apart, and can only be reached by boat. Many neighbourhoods are still without electricity, and this also affects communications.

Despite these challenges, we have been able to provide hundreds of families with food and drinking water. We have also been working alongside local churches to organise relief efforts.

Tearfund’s local partner, PHILRADS, has been distributing rice and other essential food supplies to families affected by the typhoon. Credit: Tearfund partner

Ongoing challenges

The situation is still desperate. The weather is cold and rainy and some people have no other option but to huddle in temporary shelters without proper roofing. Unable to keep warm, children and older people are at risk of getting seriously ill. To make matters worse, the number of coronavirus cases is soaring.

The recovery for these communities is likely to take months, even years. Many people have lost everything – their homes and livelihoods completely destroyed by the storm.

Tearfund’s local partner, PHILRADS, has been working alongside other agencies and local churches to organise relief efforts. Credit: Tearfund partner

‘Typhoon Odette has caused extensive devastation, and millions of people have been affected,’ says Sanjeev Bhanja, Tearfund’s Disaster Management Lead for Asia. ‘There are many emergency needs to respond to, and these communities will need long-term support as they recover and rebuild their lives.’

Please keep the people living in the Philippines in your prayers. And, if you are able, please consider giving to our emergency response work.

Pray with us

Pray for physical and mental health for Tearfund’s staff, our local partners, and other responders, as they travel long distances to distribute emergency supplies between different islands and are away from their families for extended periods.
Lift up people who have lost their homes, businesses or loved ones. Ask that they will receive the resources they need, and know God’s comfort.
Pray that communities will get the long-term support they need to recover and rebuild after this disaster.

Written by Agnes McGrane