SOS Children’s Villages Philippines Emergency Program

We have all seen the pictures of the massive devastation in the wake of the Super-Typhoon Haiyan. It is estimated that at least half a million people have been displaced as a result of the typhoon. Lives are at risk. Families are threatened. And the most vulnerable children are in harm’s way as they become displaced and separated from their families.

SOS Children’s Villages were there and our villages were among those affected. While the children and mothers in our SOS villages are safe, SOS Children’s Villages staff in the Philippines witnessed the destruction first hand. “Buildings, including our children’s village have been greatly damaged and the storm surge caused water to rise to 15 feet and flooding in the city,” said Oscar Garol, director of the SOS Children’s Village in Tacloban . “Around 150 people mostly children were safely situated on the rooftops of the family houses.”

“The surroundings are in a ravaged state. Mud all over the place. Unidentified dead bodies could be seen”.

Those who have survived the typhoon are now in dire need of food water and shelter. “On behalf of children and families we appeal to the public to donate now via SOS Children's Villages” said Garol.

That’s why SOS Children’s Villages is in the Philippines helping children and families affected by the typhoon right now: we have seen the devastation this typhoon has caused up close.

SOS will provide food and water in communities where we are working already through our existing Family Strengthening Programs. 

SOS Children’s Villages have sent an emergency team from Indonesia, who were experienced in the response to the Asian Tsunami, to the Philippines. This team is currently responding to the needs of children and families across the country. Its focus is in two areas:

• Supporting the surviving families through SOS Children’s Villages Family Strengthening Programs in the affected areas. Over recent days SOS Children's Villages has provided families with food and shelter in Tacloban and other areas
• Repairing the SOS Children’s Village in Tacloban. Much of the SOS village was badly damaged as a result of the typhoon. Repairing this village is essential to not only the children and families, but any family reunification work SOS may perform in the future and to support children orphaned and abandoned by the typhoon.

Right now, SOS co-workers across the country are pooling resources to supporting affected communities across a total of eleven SOS Social Centres and eight SOS Children’s Villages.

Your support of SOS Children’s Villages emergency program in the Philippines can save lives. 

Updated: Donations made between November 9 and December 23, 2013 are eligible for Government of Canada matching which will enable your gift to have double the impact.

Please help save lives and aid affected children and families find food, water and help bring – and keep—families together.

Donate today - SOS Philippines Emergency Fund - Matched until December 23rd, 2013