Raw Hope update - John Paul's story
October 2018
When disasters strike, it’s hard to know how to help. Yet thanks to supporters like you, families get the support they so urgently need; like food, clean water, shelter kits and hygiene sets. Children also get special support to help them recover from what they’ve been through.
Last month, a typhoon hit the north of the Philippines affecting almost three million people. Eight-year-old John Paul was evacuated as the strong wind destroyed his home. He knew people had died and he was very scared.
Now, John Paul goes to a special place where children get the emotional support they need to feel safe again.
In this video, you can see John Paul playing happily in this ‘child friendly space'.
“I’ve seen houses destroyed and I heard that many people died. I was afraid. Here (child friendly space), I feel happy.” - John Paul, Philippines
It will take weeks, maybe months before John Paul and his family can return to a safe home, but for now, John Paul knows he’s safe.
These few photos show how people like you are helping families get the emergency support and care they need to start to rebuild their lives.
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Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) hit Luzon in the north of the Philippines on 15 September 2018, bringing heavy rains and strong winds, which caused deadly landslides across the region.
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To date, almost 3 million people have been affected with devastated houses, crops, livelihoods, and infrastructures (power lines and telecommunications, roads and bridges).
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Ten-year old Celine, who lived a few metres away from her school, saw how Typhoon Ompong toppled trees in her school and ripped off the roof of their classrooms.
“It’s sad. I don’t know where our teachers will now hold classes,” she says.
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Thanks to supporters’ donations, World Vision has distributed emergency food and thousands of emergency kits so that families can stay safe. These include shelter kits, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, hygiene kits (soap, tooth paste, etc.) and kitchen sets.
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As well as giving families the essentials they need to survive, World Vision has created, thanks to supporters, two child friendly spaces in the evacuation centres.
Please share this story to show to people the difference they can make to some of the world’s most vulnerable children:
Facts (Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) – as of 1 October 2018)
What’s happening:
- A typhoon hit the north part of the Philippines on 15 September 2018
- Almost 3 million people have been affected
- 3,500 families are in and outside evacuation centres
How children are affected:
- No shelter nor food available as homes and crops have been destroyed
- No education since schools and learning materials are damaged
- Children are psychologically scarred by the things they’ve seen
How supporters are helping:
- Distribution of emergency food and health and shelter kits
- Creation of child friendly spaces in the evacuation centres
- Training of teachers so they can support children emotionally