Don Bosco's Salesians come to the aid of Cebu Typhoon Kalmaegi victims
The Catholic Church is at the forefront of relief efforts for the population affected by Tino, which has caused over 90 deaths and 400,000 displaced persons. Nearly 400 people have been welcomed into the classrooms of the Maria Ausiliatrice school. The archbishop has ordered churches to be opened to provide shelter. Over 20,000 schools have suspended classes.
Manila (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Church in the Philippines is at the forefront of relief and rescue operations for people affected by Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino in the local language), which has brought death and destruction.
At this time, the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco are working to alleviate the suffering of the inhabitants of the central and southern regions of the archipelago, which were among the most battered by the strong winds and heavy rains that struck between 3 and 4 November.
The religious sisters, formerly known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, based in Cebu, in the central Philippines, immediately opened the doors of the Mary Help of Christians school to provide shelter for families displaced by the storm, as well as doing their utmost to assist those in need.
The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which hit the province of Cebu with particular force, has now risen to more than 90. Floodwaters, described as unprecedented by locals and experts, inundated the city, sweeping away cars, lorries and even huge containers loaded with goods. At least 76 people have died in the area, while there are at least 17 deaths in other provinces of the archipelago, with the death toll likely to rise. In total, almost 400,000 people have been evacuated as a precautionary measure from the typhoon's path.
Sources close to the nuns say that at least 352 people have found refuge in the school's classrooms. With warmth and compassion, the testimony continues, they provided them with food from donations collected during the numerous Masses celebrated inside the school, as well as a safe place to rest. ‘The school buildings,’ says the source, ‘were transformed into temporary accommodation for them.’ In a climate of fear and uncertainty, the presence of the nuns became ‘a beacon of hope,’ demonstrating that even in the most violent storms of life, ‘love and generosity can bring light to all.’
In addition, the Archbishop of Cebu, Monsignor Alberto Sy Uy, ordered all parishes to open their churches and institutions run by the Catholic Church so that people could take refuge inside and find shelter from the rain and strong winds caused by the typhoon. ‘As Archbishop of Cebu, I have ordered all priests,’ the prelate emphasised, ‘to open the churches of the archdiocese as shelters for those seeking refuge during the storm.’ ‘Please stay safe,’ he warned the faithful, ‘and remember everyone in your prayers.’
The Church has mobilised all its available resources, although it should be noted that not all churches and parishes were able to accommodate the displaced, as some of the buildings were damaged in the recent earthquake and are therefore unusable. Finally, the prelate urged Catholics, priests, nuns and volunteers to ‘support each other in these difficult times’.
Local Caritas offices and other non-governmental organisations linked to the Church and others, together with government agencies, have mobilised en masse to provide immediate aid to the affected communities. As of 5 November, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that at least 66 people had died as a result of the typhoon and that the number could rise further as search and rescue operations continue. Other independent agencies report more than 90 deaths, with the toll expected to rise.
‘Some of the victims were buried by water and mud, others were hit by heavy objects lifted by strong winds, and many more drowned,’ said Joel Erestain, regional director of the Office of Civil Defence (OCD) for Region VII. In addition to the loss of life, the typhoon caused significant damage or destruction to public and private property. The Department of Education said that more than 20,600 schools across the archipelago suspended classes due to the typhoon, which also hit several areas of the Visayas and Mindanao and brought heavy rains to Palawan.
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