Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Congressman highlights ongoing Philippines recovery efforts

Congressman highlights ongoing Philippines recovery efforts

Last updated on: December 12, 2013 at 11:35 am by CNA Daily News

Congressman highlights ongoing Philippines recovery efforts 2013-12-12T11:35:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Dec 12, 2013 / 04:35 am (CNA).- Despite facing a long path to recovery after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, the people of the Philippines have not given up hope, says a U.S. Congressman who recently visited the country.

“I met with numerous survivors who told us heartbreaking stories yet radiated a calm and inner peace,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s global health panel.

“One man told us how his father drowned only a few feet from where we stood and how he had stoically carried many waterlogged dead bodies to a mass grave. He said he nearly collapsed emotionally, however, when he carried the lifeless body of a three year-old girl,” the congressman continued.

“He said he just broke down, overwhelmed, and felt he could continue no more. Yet amazingly, a few hours later, there he was—determined to rebuild and overcome and full of faith in God.”

Rep. Smith and Reps. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) and Al Green (D-Texas) toured the Philippines from Nov. 22-26 as a delegation from Congress.

They discussed the ongoing response to the typhoon and the current state of its victims at a Dec. 3 hearing at the U.S. Capitol.

The massive storm, locally known as Typhoon Yolanda, made landfall in the Philippines on Nov. 8 with wind speeds of 195 miles per hour, the strongest storm yet recorded. The typhoon killed over 5,000, while 1,600 are still missing and millions have been displaced from their homes.

Rep. Smith cited the encouraging words of Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, who said “the typhoon was the strongest in the word … but our faith in the Lord is even stronger … no calamity or natural devastation can quench the fire of our hope.”

“The Filipino soul is stronger than Yolanda,” the archbishop said.

Sean Callahan, CEO of Catholic Relief Services, told the congressional hearing that the most urgent needs for storm victims include shelter, water, hygiene, sanitation and food.

He said the massive amount of debris keeps storm victims from returning to their homes and will pose public health threats if not addressed soon.

The relief agency is also continuing its response to help victims of the October 2013 earthquake in the Bohol province of the country.

Rep. Smith commended the relief agency’s work in an interview with CNA.

“Right from the start, Catholic Relief Services was there and doing an extraordinary job of getting plastic sheeting, clean water capability, and other kinds of basics without which people would have been sicker if not dead,” he said.

Smith said the Catholic relief centers are providing “a whole lot of good things to help the people.”

He also praised the U.S. military’s “unbelievable job” in providing an emergency response. The work of the U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy prevented “a far higher death toll,” he said.

Storm victims’ displacement from their homes is one of the key issues facing the Philippines, the congressman said.

“Four million people are displaced. It’s unprecedented,” he said.

Rep. Smith said the emergency response is now shifting to a recovery phase. Disease epidemics are a major threat and need to be “aggressively fought.”

One risk is Dengue fever infection, which is “very painful.” The disease is mosquito-borne and the stagnant water remaining from the typhoon provides a large breeding ground for mosquitoes.

“There’s much more that has to be done to kill these insects,” the congressman stated.

Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection transmitted through water contaminated with infected animal urine, is also a threat, as is rabies carried by stray dogs.

Furthermore, Rep. Smith said that the 19,000 Filipinos airlifted to Manila are vulnerable to exploitation by human traffickers. Pregnant woman are also especially vulnerable during the storm recovery due to a lack of clean facilities, clean blood and accessible roads to hospitals.

Previous Post

December 12, 2013

Thai community pays tribute to 'unsung hero' Father Ray Brennan

Next Post

December 12, 2013 God speaks to us 'with the voice of a child,' Pope reflects

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the king of Babylon during the exile of the Israelites?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Darius Nebuchadnezzar Belshazzar Cyrus