The Philippine Association of the Order of Malta is responding to the humanitarian crisis

More than 400 people have died and nearly 400 remain missing after Typhoon Bopha swept by the Philippines between 3-6 December with winds of up to 250 km/h. Almost 50,000 are still living in evacuation centres; five million in total have been affected by the storm.

The Philippine Association of the Order of Malta, together with Malteser International, is responding to the crisis by delivering 1,200 food packages and household kits to families in three of the most affected areas – Dumaguete City, Cagayan de Oro and Compostela Valley.

The relief items are already in stock and can be sent immediately to the disaster regions. 500 packages containing rice, noodles and canned food as well as 700 kits containing blankets, mosquito nets, soap and buckets will be given to the families who are most in need.

In addition to emergency relief items, the affected population is in dire need of construction materials to rebuild or repair the destroyed homes. The Philippine Association is planning to provide the most affected families with vouchers which can be exchanged for construction materials, food and household items in the region’s supermarkets and hardware stores.