Helping Hearts and Hands to the Philippines
2013-11-12 10:09
International relief organizations, including Korean Christian NGOs, are arriving swiftly in Tacloban in response to the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.
The Philippines Headquarter of World Vision is already onsite for emergency relief. While preparing for shelters and providing food, blankets and first-aid kits, they appeal to the international community for support through World Vision’s international network. They are raising six million dollars for the emergency relief.
The World Vision Korea announced that childrens are nearly a half of the estimated four million victims. They decided to send an immediate emergency relief fund of $100,000 and fundraise for continuing help for the local. Currently, there are about 30,000 children under World Vision sponsorship in this area.
Korean churches are preparing for their support as well. Korean Diakonia, National Council of Churches in Korea, Communion Churches in Korea, Presbyterian Church of Korea and other organizations and denominations are discussing a united rescue effort.
The devastating typhoon damaged local churches as well. Rev. Chung Jae-soon (GAPCK-The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church) who established Harvest Church in Tacloban last year said, “Most of the church members are poor and living in shanty town, probably all blown down by the typhoon. This is heartbreaking.”
Families and churches are relieved, on the other hand, to learn that the Korean missionaries who had been reported missing right after the typhoon were later known to be alive and safe. There are seven missionary families with 20 members in Tacloban.
Kukmin Ilbo (The Kukmin Daily) dispatched two reporters to the site for quick and accurate news.
