South-East Asia Typhoon Appeal

Donate now: Click here  to donate to the SE Asia Typhoon Appeal.

Citizens helping eachother escape floods from Typhoon Ondoy, Philippines

Rescue boats collect citizens isolated by flooding in the Philippines

Chaos in the Philippines as people and traffic crowd onto any piece of land they can

Typhoon Ketsana (known as Ondoy in the Philippines) struck landfall in the Philippines on the 26 September and Vietnam on the 30 September. It then extended into Cambodia, Laos and China.

Philippines

• More than 290 deaths and 500,000 people have been affected in 27 provinces
• 80% (9.6 million) of Manila’s (Philippines capital city) 12 million people were affected
• Damage also appears to be significant in the provinces surrounding Manila.

Caritas Australia’s Philippine-based partner FCJ, based in a Quezon city slum, is working with medical centres to source medical supplies and provide bedding, mats and mosquito nets for the community. Caritas Philippines is assisting an initial 500,000 with food and non-food items (medical supplies, shelter, bedding, utensils).

Vietnam

• 163 confirmed deaths in seven central coastal provinces and central highland provinces (Ketsana struck 70 kms south of Danang city)
• 3 million people appear to have been affected
• 290,000 people live in coastal areas below five metres above sea level.
• More than 21,429 houses have collapsed.

Caritas Australia has strong networks in Cambodia and will conduct emergency response activities in Quang Nam and Binh Dinh provinces.This includes distribution of water purification tablets and clean water supplies and providing medical supplies. For recovery phase activities, Caritas will focus on repair of schools and health clinics as well as replacing school and medical supplies. 

Cambodia

• Northern and central Cambodia most affected
• 15 confirmed deaths with nine people killed in Kampong Thom in collapsing buildings
• More than 30 people have been injured, while thousands have been displaced and many more evacuated.

Emergency response will provide 3000 families with food aid, temporary shelter and non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion health services in four provinces of Kompong Thom, Preh Vihea, Siem Reap and Rattanakiri.

Communities in Crisis: Asia Pacific appeal

In addition to Typhoon Ketsana severely affecting many countries across South East Asia, Caritas Australia is responding to the earthquake in Indonesia and the tsunami in the Pacific. People across our region are in desperate need. Caritas Australia is providing immediate assistance to all these crises with people on the ground delivering life-saving assistance. You can help these people in our neighbourhood by giving generously to the Caritas Australia Communities in Crisis — Asia Pacific Appeal, donate online now, or click here to learn more.

Media Releases

2 October 2009: Caritas launches Communities in Crisis — Asia Pacific Appeal with $250K — pleas for more support
29 September 2009: Caritas delivers aid to 50,000 as debris and flooding stalls relief effort
28 September 2009: Caritas opens appeal as flood damage assessed in Philippines