Super typhoon ‘Rai’ rages over Philippines

Latest newsUpdate: Friday, December 31 For two weeks now, there has been no power in Cebu City. The electricity companies are working nonstop to restore the power grid. People are sitting in the dark at night and because the fans are not running, everyone is bothered by mosquitoes. Fuel is hard to get, there are long lines at the gas stations. In places where there is power, often thanks to generators, 'charging stations' are being erected: tables with lots of junction boxes, where people can charge their cell phones or power banks. Dear sponsors, we are enormously grateful for all the donations we have received in the past week. Our highest priority is that all Pasuk children have a dry and safe shelter again. And have access to clean drinking water. After the turn of the year we hope to start repairing the roofs. A team of four well-known carpenters is already on standby. Buying building materials is still quite a challenge, as the demand for corrugated iron and wood has skyrocketed. Update: Thursday, December 23 Seven days ago we were hit by the typhoon. We are thankful that our emergency relief plan is now ready. With God's help, we hope to repair the homes of affected sponsor children over the next two weeks so that they at least have a roof over their heads again. To do this, we are procuring corrugated iron sheets, wood and nails, and hiring a team of carpenters. Repair costs are budgeted at about €150 per house. Furthermore, we are helping each Pasuk family get a large bottle (16 liters) of drinking water, which they can refill. We are also investing in a mobile emergency generator to help Pasuk families get power for flashlights, phones and powerbanks. In the short term, we need about 4800 euros. If you want to contribute to this, thank you very much! Update: Wednesday, December 22 Our team has now found a location where we can withdraw money, an hour and a half drive outside the city of Cebu. This means that in the coming week we can start providing aid to the affected sponsor children. In the meantime, we are working on the emergency and recovery plan. More information on this will follow soon. Water is still scarce and there is no electricity in the city. That is why we are looking for a generator in Cebu, with which we can generate electricity. Update: Monday, December 19 Pasuk has made budget available for urgent emergency aid to the affected sponsor children. However, this money can only be accessed when it can also be physically withdrawn in Cebu. However, many banks are still closed because the damage to the buildings still needs to be repaired. Most banks do have ATMs, but they depend on electricity, which is not yet available. The ATMs that do work run on electricity generators. However, there is a shortage of fuel in the city, as many gas stations have also been damaged. So there are long lines in front of ATMs and gas stations. There are a few bright spots to share, though. First, we thank God that none of the Pasuk children were injured during the storm. The second answer to prayer is that in the church building at CBC, a small stream of water flows out of the pipe at night, which the team is able to collect in containers so they can use it as drinking water during the day. Furthermore, project director Russel was able to rent a motorcycle, to visit the Pasuk children. The motorcycle also has a USB charger, which can be used to charge smartphones. The mobile network works reasonably well, which means that contact with Pasuk Netherlands is maintained. We are very happy with that, because it allows us to come up with team plans. Update: Saturday, December 18 It will possibly be weeks before power is restored in Cebu. Our local team is trying to arrange for a mobile generator in the next few days so that the Pasuk office remains easily accessible and we can help families get power. Wired internet is not available, but we are receiving photos and videos of the situation via the mobile network. Update: Friday, December 17 Public life is currently very chaotic. There is debris and broken down trees everywhere. Power is out all over the city. There is also hardly any water coming out of the tap. People are searching for drinks and other basic necessities. Fortunately, the mobile network is still functioning and we are currently in contact with the Pasuk project leadership. The challenge is that their smartphones are almost empty and cannot yet be recharged. Our team is currently surveying the extent of the damage and checking on the well-being of all sponsor children. One bright spot is that the children all received their Christmas packages earlier this week. We are grateful that their Christmas package can now serve as an emergency ration, giving them food for several days. Prayer Request Would you please pray for the Pasuk children and others who have lost their homes due to the typhoon. That the Lord will provide what is most needed in the short and long term. Thank you so much for your compassion and prayers.