ROME — Joe Rozansky and Vincente Felipe from the OFM International JPIC office at the General Curia have sent an appeal to all friaries for aid to the Philippines.
The General Curia received a report on the situation in the Philippines, and a request for aid, as a result of the injury, loss of life, displacement and damage caused by typhoons Reming and Utor, which hit on Nov. 30 and Dec. 9. According to the appeal, it is estimated that estimated that 800,000 people in 12 provinces were affected by the storm.
More than 700 villages have been devastated due to torrents of mud and volcanic ash loosened by the heavy rains.
Especially hard hit are Albay and Bico Provinces, situated in the southern part of Luzon island. Many communities are wiped out, and the death toll continues to rise. The Secular Franciscans in Daraga report that the population is in need of food and water. The government has ordered the Poor Clares in the area of Santo Domingo, Legaspi City, to vacate their monastery due to the rain that continues to fall; they transferred this past Sunday to a Poor Clare monastery in Sorsogon City, which has not suffered as much from the storm. The Franciscan Movement for JPIC in the Philippines is working to facilitate relief to those affected.
For these reasons, the Franciscan Movement for JPIC is asking for generosity and support, appealing for financial assistance to alleviate the suffering of the people.