The Philippines: An Unprecedented Emergency

At this dramatic moment, the Filipino people need all the help we can give them

As always, it is the poor who suffer the most in catastrophes. In fact, the nepa huts in which many poor Filipinos live were the first structures that the fury of Typhoon Haiyan (or Yolanda) swept away. Many brick buildings withstood the wind that at times exceeded 300 kilometers per hour.

On November 8, Typhoon Haiyan, possibly the most violent typhoon in history, engulfed the central Philippine Islands, especially the provinces of Samar and Leyte.  Tacloban, the hardest hit city, has over 10,000 dead with 4 million people left homeless.

They have no electricity, communications was interrupted, and the reservoirs have been contaminated.

A health emergency exists because it is impossible to transport the injured or to find desperately needed medicines and people have an urgent need for food and drinking water.

Anyone who wishes to help can send a contribution to one of the following accounts payable to “AMU – Action for a United World Onlus”:

– c/o bancario presso Banca Popolare Etica, filiale di Roma
codice IBAN: IT16G0501803200000000120434
codice SWIFT/BIC CCRTIT2184D

Purpose: Emergency -Typhoon Haiyan Philippines

We hope that humanitarian aid that is reaching the Philippines from all over the world combined with the great strength of these people will help to alleviate the suffering and bring them hope. For our part, we look ahead with confident hope that the rebuilding can begin soon.

For more information and testimonials, go to:

http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2013/11/11/filippine-colpite-dal-tifone-haiyan/