Typhoon Rai devastates communities across the Southern Philippines

In mid-December Typhoon Rai hit land in the Southern Philippines with wind speeds of 195 kilometres per hour causing widespread death, devastation and damage.

With over 400 people killed, thousands of families displaced and an estimated half a billion USD worth of damage, ChildFund is working right now to help children and families devastated by the cyclone, which is known locally as Typhoon Odette.

Reports from ChildFund’s local partner says over 2,680,000 million people across the region were affected by the cyclone, mostly people already impacted by poverty and social challenges, who were living in informal coastal settlements.

Over 165,000 homes were damaged including more than 63,000 that were completely destroyed and roads left unpassable.

The damage to the agriculture sector was huge from the cyclone, with farming communities across the region completely devastated by the winds and floods, destroying land, crops and stock.

Over 15,000 hectares of rice fields and poultry farms were destroyed, at an estimated costs of over $6.5 million.

Two of ChildFund’s programme areas in the Philippines, Bacolod City and San Joaquin, were directly along the cyclone’s path.

ChildFund is working right now to provide shelter for families affected along with mental health and psychosocial support which were both identified as immediate needs following the disaster.

On December 21, ChildFund’s partner held the first psychological first aid session for 692 children from the region. These sessions are vital in helping children cope following the devastation and displacement after a disaster.

ChildFund is working in the Philippines right you now. You can help children and families devastated by Typhoon Rai by donating now.