Super Typhoon Rai crashed into the country's southeastern islands on Thursday, levelling homes and bringing winds of about 195km/h (120mph).An AMURT relief operation is underway in the devastated regions and volunteers are distributing food and water to the affected population in Cebu.
Over one year has passed since 200 mph winds wreaked havoc on the coastal belt of East Samar in the Philippines. From the beginning, AMURT has worked in close collaboration with government authorities and the people themselves to play its part in rebuilding shattered lives.
In Philippines local AMURT & AMURTEL volunteers responded to massive flood in early August near Manila. In the last couple of weeks they distributed cooked food, bread, drinking water and hygiene items to more than 10,000 people in and around Manila.
After recent flooding in Southern Philippines more than 1,000 persons died or are missing and 300,000 have had to flee to shelters after their homes and villages were washed away. AMURT Philippines has several teams in the area assisting the affected communities.
BFI, one of AMURT’s oldest local partners is based in the Mindanao Island of the Philippines. Today BFI is a leader in the micro-finance field known for its innovative techniques that appeal to the real needs of the poor. Social services such as children’s advocacy, gender awareness, waste management and marketing linkages workshops still occupy 30% of BFI’s programs.