On Saturday 26 September 2009, within the space of just a few hours the equivalent of a month’s rainfall battered the metropolitan area of Manila as Typhoon Ketsana swept past. A week later, a second typhoon of equal intensity rained down on the already broken city, leaving around 300 dead and 500,000 homeless. The schools are shut and the Salesian centre has provided lodgings for many students unable to return home because of the rain, as well as those who had lost everything. Money, food, clothes and all other necessities have been collected. There are hundreds of thousands of people at emergency centres but there is a lack of medicine. The risk of becoming ill is very high; in many areas the water is not drinkable. Despite the meteorological forecasts, the Filipino Government was unable to set up an effective emergency service in time and even now, whilst coordinating aid, is showing signs of imminent collapse.

The objective is to make a contribution in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy and support, in every way we can, our missionary brothers. Many zones still can’t be reached by humanitarian aid because roads are blocked or inaccessible, whether by foot or car.

To provide as soon as possible: ready-to-eat foods, drinkable water, medicines, toilet facilities, mattresses, clothes, cleaning detergents, equipment and buckets for collecting water.

Play your part too, make a contribution no matter how small! Together, if there are many of us, we really can provide these people with the help they need.