The Philippines is still suffering from Typhoon Frank, which first struck 12 days ago. Now pesticides have been discovered aboard a sunken ferry, and the continuous pounding of heavy rains is hampering relief work. As the storm moved across the South China Sea, many lives, homes, and livelihoods were lost. The churches have played a leading part in the humanitarian operation to help the victims.
The number dead from the capsize of the ferry MV Princess of the Stars has reached nearly 800, and it emerged that it was carrying a heavy load of pesticides. The disintegration of the chemicals has hindered relief efforts around the vessel, three miles off Subayan Island in the Visayas region. On Monday, a British team arrived to attempt to remove the pesticides. All fishing has been halted, which imposes a heavy burden on the area, where fishing is a principal source of livelihood.
Elsewhere, aid has been arriving from the European Union, Australia, and the United States to rebuild homes, and provide food and water to the estimated 20,000 people who lost their homes in the province of Iloilo, in the Visayas.
Volunteers from the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches have worked to provide emergency shelter and rice for those in the affected areas. Several church leaders have demanded swift compensation and remedial action from the regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. They have also asked why it permitted the ferry company to continue operations, after two previous disasters, when its ferries were found to be overloaded with passengers.
Prayers were said in all Christian churches in the Philippines last Sunday in memory of the victims and in solidarity with the bereaved. A special message from Pope Benedict was read at all Roman Catholic masses. |
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