Volume 24 No. 1 | Autumn 2014
8
World focus moves on from Philippines disaster but SVDs still
helping people to rebuild lives
The spotlight of the world’s media has moved on from
the Philippines following the disaster of Typhoon Haiyan
(Yolanda), but the Divine Word Missionaries, are still well
and truly on the ground, helping those who lost homes and
livelihoods to rebuild and start a new life.
The Divine Word Missionaries have a strong presence in the
Philippines, and so were among the first to arrive in the areas
worst hit by the typhoon, spearheading a massive relief effort
to help the injured, homeless, starving and bereaved.
To support this effort, the SVD AUS Province set up a special
Philippines Disaster Appeal, to direct donations straight to
the relief teams and to the people in desperate need.
“We were humbled by the donations that we received in
the immediate aftermath of the disaster,” says SVD AUS
Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD.
“All donations, large or small, have been, and continue to
be, gratefully received, and are being sent directly to the
disaster relief teams on the ground.”
Fr Henry says the scale of the disaster means that the
recovery effort has been carried out in two phases – the
immediate relief phase and a much longer phase of
rebuilding and restoration of housing, livelihood and hope.
The second, rebuilding phase is now well underway and
much support will be needed to help whole villages to get
back on their feet.
The SVD relief team reported that the initial disaster was
beyond imagining, with thousands of people killed and
many more left without shelter, food or clean water. The
only functioning hospital in Tacloban was the Divine Word
Hospital, but it was without electricity, as well as lacking
in essential medicines, water, doctors and other medical
personnel.
SVD Superior General, Fr Heinz Kulueke says that in the
initial relief effort, the SVD disaster team distributed 10,000
relief food packs to families, many whom were still starving.
Students from the University of San Carlos, together with
other volunteers were tireless in their packing of relief goods.
The first batch of relief packs covered the barangays
(villages) of Bantayan Island, followed by Tacloban.
“The relief operations are being scaled up to the next
phase, which is rebuilding and livelihood rehabilitation,”
Fr Heinz says.
“This particular phase needs careful planning and an
efficient implementation process.”
Fr Heinz thanked all who have helped the relief effort by
donating to the SVD appeals around the world.
“At a glance, with the devastation and great loss of lives and
property, one is overwhelmed,” he says.
“As is evident in the pace of relief operations staged by the
Divine Word Missionaries, we are responsibly making use
of resources available through your generosity to deal with
the aftermath of super storm Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan) and
more specifically with the immediate needs of those who
survived.
“Again, with you, we can say to those who survived the
aftermath of the typhoon: ‘You are not alone’.
“Thank you very much for your support.”
Society Matters
A Newsletter of the Divine Word Missionaries Inc - Australia Province
Donations to the SVDAUS Province
Overseas Aid Fund
can be made online at
or by mailing to
Divine Word Missionary Appeal Office,
Locked Bag 3, Epping NSW, 1710, Australia.
svdaus
@svdaus
