Two girls from the Phillipines leaning against each other
In 2008 Typhoon Fengshen (Frank) hit the Philippines. Whilst the SOS Childrens Village most local to the disaster, SOS Childrens Village Iloilo, was thankfully unaffected, this did not stop the efforts by SOS Children to support the local relief effort for the community:
- Will
Typhoon Fengshen caused devastation across much of the central Philippines. About 160 people died in flooding and landslides, while homes, bridges and roads were washed away.
SOS Children's Village Iloilo provided rice, canned food-items and noodles to the 300 families in the vicinity whose houses were still under water after the typhoon Fengshen lashed the Philippines. The water-level in many areas still remained at waist-height for an extended time. It took a long time before relief operations were able to operate effectively in the area.
About 70 families took shelter at the SOS Social Centre Iloilo where they were provided with the food and essential items. These families came from the communities around the SOS Children's Village Iloilo where family strengthening programmes were being implemented.
One of those rescued was a 27-day-old baby who was cheerfully received and was cared for by the children in the village.
Electricity and telephone services were lost in many parts of Iloilo city. Generators were pressed into service to provide power in the SOS Children's Village Iloilo.
According to the Red Cross, Iloilo is worst-hit by the fury of the typhoon and hundreds of thousands of people had to be evacuated.
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