Caritas organizations to help typhoon-hit areas

Various Caritas organizations from different countries pledged to help the Philippines recover from the disastrous impact of Super Typhoon Rolly.

The organizations conveyed to Caritas Philippines, the humanitarian arm of the Philippine Catholic Church, their readiness to support its emergency and recovery efforts.

“Several Caritas Internationalis member organizations have responded not only with messages of solidarity, but likewise an offer to help in any way possible,” said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national director of Caritas Philippines.

He said these include Caritas Española, Caritas Italiana, Caritas Norway, Caritas Germany, Caritas Switzerland, and Caritas New Zealand.

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Cordaid, and Trócaire have also pledged to support the local Church’s response to help communities devastated by the storm.

With wind speeds of 225 kph, the typhoon slammed into southern Luzon on Nov. 1and touted to be the world’s strongest tropical cyclone for 2020, so far.

Rolly claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed many homes and forced thousands to evacuate.

An estimated 1.6 million people were affected with around 408,473 individuals being served inside and outside evacuation centers.

Caritas Philippines has earlier launched an international appeal for aid after the typhoon caused “massive destruction” in the country.

Bagaforo said that several dioceses were also fast in responding to the call including Manila, Iba, Borongan, Sorsogon, Lucena, and several parishes in Metro Manila. (CBCP News)

A version of this article was first published on CBCP News.