Tropical Storm Washi: World Vision aid workers say devastation widespread, urgent need for water and food

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, the Philippines (17 December 2011) — World Vision aid workers assisting survivors in the flooded communities of southern Philippines described a scene of widespread devastation and grief today, after nearly 200 have been left dead and more missing after Tropical Storm Washi's landfall.

"The most urgent needs are water and ready-to-eat foods," said World Vision aid worker John Salva, in hard-hit Cagayan de Oro. "Even if people were able to salvage rice, there is no safe water or electricity to cook it."

Overnight, as the storm approached, World Vision staff worked with local authorities to warn residents living in the mountain slopes and in the low-lying and flood-prone areas of the danger of flash floods and landslides. Many were asleep in their homes when the worst of the floods hit, and the high volume of water took people by surprise, killing those trapped in their homes, particularly children and the elderly who could not escape.

"People told us they woke up to find their belongings, TV sets and the like, floating past them. The flooding came from nowhere," said Salva.

Thousands of survivors are in evacuation centers today, but some families have returned to their houses because the centers are congested, World Vision relief teams reported. As the rains have stopped and floods in some areas have subsided, some are trying to salvage wet and muddy belongings.

The number of casualties could climb higher, the aid teams warned, as the number of missing is in the hundreds.

Aid worker Crislyn Felisilda reported that the well-being of children who had lost or been separated from family members was a top concern for World Vision. "I spoke with a 13-year-old girl, Remy, whose mother was found dead and whose father and two siblings were still missing,” said Felisilda, "Many children like Remy that I spoke with were crying, others just stared into space. Many children are looking for their loved ones."

Regular World Vision activities in many areas of Mindanao were postponed to ensure the safety of the staff, volunteers, families and children. Communities had planned holiday festivities, as Filipinos mark the start of the traditional nine-day Simbang Gabi (Mass of Dawn) leading up to Christmas Eve.

World Vision assists more than 65,000 children and their communities Mindanao and Visayas alone. Last June, when large parts of Davao City were flooded, World Vision provided relief items and housing assistance to more than 2,500 families, and opened Child-Friendly Spaces for 1,100 affected children.

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About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews