UPDATE: Feb. 4, 2009 - Although it's been more than six months since Typhoon Frank hit the Philippines, the storm caused massive damage and many are still recovering.
Typhoon Frank hit several provinces of the Philippines on June 20, 2008, including Panay Island, severely affecting many involved with Compassion's ministry.
All 12 church partners in Panay were affected, including more than 1,000 Compassion-assisted children. Families and children involved in the Child Survival Program as well as some students from the Leadership Development program were also affected.
The Philippine government provided food relief items to Compassion-assisted children, and the church partners provided them clothing and school supplies, as well as bedding and kitchen supplies for Child Survival Program participants.
No Compassion-assisted children lost their lives in this storm and all 12 centers have resumed regular activities. Two centers, PH-872 and PH-843, are still using temporary buildings until they can rebuild.
Many homes of Compassion-assisted children still need to be repaired.
Please pray for those still recovering from this crisis. Pray for the staff and volunteers at Compassion's child development centers as they continue to move forward amidst the damage.
Compassion Philippines will provide updates as information becomes available.
Compassion International will contact you if your sponsored child has been affected.
UPDATE: July 16, 2008 - While Typhoon Frank hit the Philippines nearly a month ago, the destruction was extensive, making information gathering difficult. Compassion staff in the Philippines continue to assess the damage to church partners and gather information on the children and families who were affected.
July 1, 2008 -Typhoon Frank hit the northern provinces of the Philippines June 21-22. Some of the hardest hit areas are the provinces of Iloilo (south of Manila) and Samar, where Compassion has a number of child development centers.
While nationally the death toll has risen to more than 500, several hundred more remain missing or are injured and hundreds of thousands lost their homes. Praise God that no Compassion-assisted children are missing or were hurt or killed by this typhoon.
Compassion Philippines staff are continuing to identify which children have been directly affected, although this is difficult as electricity and phone lines are down.
While all Compassion-assisted children are safe, more than 900 children in 19 child development centers lived in homes that were destroyed or damaged. Compassion's Church Partners are collecting and distributing relief supplies to the affected children and their families.
