Philippines typhoon relief effort expected for ‘many years’

Temporary tarp shelters for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban
Temporary tarp shelters for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban

ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Church Canada) – The tragedy of the deadly super typhoon, Haiyan, that slammed the Philippines Nov. 8 may no longer be front-page news, but the recovery continues, and workers associated with Mennonite Mission Network are dedicated to that.

Mission Associates Tad and Barbara Wulliman have lived in the island nation more than 29 years. They serve at Faith Academy, a K-12 Christian international school, which has locations in Manila and Davao City. The Wullimans reside in Manila, an urban area of 20 million people that was spared by Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda.

Tacloban, 530 miles to the southeast, was among the areas hit hardest. According to published reports, the death toll is at least 6,000, and more than 11 million people are estimated to have been affected by the storm. Many have fled to Manila.

Via e-mail, the Wullimans said they visited the cities of Ormoc and Leyte, which neighbor Tacloban. Representing their local church, they helped to assess damages and determine needs. Several relief agencies and workers have come from abroad, but the plight of many Filipinos remains daunting.

“The needs are staggering and seemingly insurmountable, but help continues to arrive,” Tad Wulliman wrote.

Mennonite Central Committee committed $200,000 through partner agency, Church World Service (CWS), to provide food packages and nonfood items such as bath soap, detergent, towels, and pails for carrying water to improve sanitation and hygiene. The assistance is focused on Dulag, Tolosa, and Tabontabon, which are south of Tacloban. 

MCC partnered with Peacebuilders Community, Inc. to send a team to Ormoc. Peacebuilders, a Filipino organization, has ties to the Integrated Mennonite Church of the Philippines and is a ministry of Mennonite Church Canada Witness.

On the Peacebuilders website, mission workers report glimmers of hope despite the difficult and chaotic scene. For example, some people have begun receiving tents and food from international relief agencies. Firefighters are retrieving dead bodies; people fear the death toll may be more than 10,000. Local government officials, who are responsible for providing services, have been criticized for being disorganized, but many of them are also among the many victims.

Gordon Janzen, Mennonite Church Canada’s director for Asia ministries, said that Canadian workers Dann and Joji Pantoja continue to train, organize and mobilize local pastors to deal with trauma healing and to equip church communities for disaster response. But it will likely take many years to restore the infrastructure, homes and incomes of Filipinos.

“In addition to physical restoration, there will be a long and ongoing need for spiritual restoration as typhoon victims struggle to overcome long lasting trauma and the fear that another super typhoon could hit the region again,” said Janzen.

Since many of the victims are farmers, they’re concerned about their incomes because their lands have been devastated, Wulliman stressed. In December, inflation rose to 4.1 percent, the highest in two years. Oil prices have also increased.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the Philippines Dec. 17 and 18 and pledged an additional $24.6 million in humanitarian aid to the $62 million the United States has already provided. Meanwhile, debris still must be removed and the deceased have to be found and buried.

One of the most intense tropical storms on record, Haiyan was 300 miles wide when it hit land. Winds were recorded at up to 195 mph and water rose to 30 feet above sea level along coasts.

“The Lord has sent wonderful and evangelical groups to assist, but that assistance will need to be for many, many years before sustainability is attained,” Wulliman wrote.

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For immediate release

Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.