Dear friends and volunteers of SOS,

Dear friends and volunteers of SOS,

Greetings of hope and Peace from the Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS)!
Typhoon Sendong (international code name: Washi) washed away entire villages as it whipped the southern part of the Philippines in the early hours of Saturday, December 17. In its aftermath, Typhoon Sendong left a trail of flattened homes, broken bridges and upended vehicles in the Northern Mindanao Region. The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on the island of Mindanao were worst hit when typhoon hit shore late on Friday and early on Saturday, sending torrents of water and mud through villages and stripping mountainsides bare.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), typhoon Sendon affected a total of number of 26,928 families or 142,961 person in 190 barangays, in 24 municipalities and cities in the 13 provinces of Region VI, Region VII, Region IX, Region X, Region XI, CARAGA and the ARMM. Death toll mainly caused by flashfloods and landslides which swept away houses into rivers and out to sea induced by Typhoon Sendong has reached 632, mostly were women and children (Philippine National Red Cross on the other hand, reported more than 800 persons dead); 16 persons were injured; 432 were rescued while 82 persons more are still missing. As retrieval operations are still going on, thousands of families are still staying in evacuation as their houses were destroyed and swept away by flash floods. The NDRRMC reported that a total of 6,917 houses were damaged.

SOS’ network partners in the affected regions are right now responding to the disaster situation and are appeal for immediate assistance. The Panday-Bulig Relief and Rehabilitation Center, Rural Missionaries in the Philippines-Northern Mindanao and the Community-Based Health Services Association-Mindanao reported that the affected population are in great need of food, water, clothing, blankets, medicines, etc.

Let us make the season of Advent a season for helping and sharing as we share and give our help to the families severely affected by Typhoon Sendong. The office of the Council for Health and Development which houses the SOS secretariat will be opened for your food and non-food donations. Cash donations can be deposited to Samahang Operasyong Sagip Inc. Savings Account # 636-3-63608747-6 swift code: MBTCPHMM Metro bank- Examiner Branch Quezon City, Philippines

SOS will also be announcing later the schedules of food and medical relief that will be organized by our Mindanao-based partners and also hope that you can also help and join these activities

For More Info. Please Contact Christ Ian Mostrales R.N, R.M (SOS Coordinator)

Thank you very much for the continued support.

Respectfully yours,




Rosalinda C. Tablang
Chairperson
Board of Trustees