South East Asia | Typhoon | 2020

Helping during Challenging Times

Our Disaster Relief teams in Southeast Asia have been busy bringing emergency relief to communities suffering in the aftermath of a series of deadly tropical storms. We saw five storms – including Super Typhoon Goni – in the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. The last one in the Philippines, Typhoon Vamco, reached Category 4 intensity before tearing across Asia into Vietnam. This was the worst flooding season the region has seen in over four decades. 

A series of deadly tropical storms in rapid succession has caused catastrophic damage and the worst flooding that parts of Southeast Asia have endured in more than four decades. Floodwaters, fallen trees, and debris have left entire villages inaccessible. Hundreds of thousands of homes across the region are damaged or destroyed. Decimated crops have left farmers without any income source.

In the Philippines, millions of people were affected with hundreds of thousands seeking safety in evacuation centres. Thousands of acres of farmland were also destroyed, leaving many farmers without a source of income. Immediately after the storms, our response team was on the ground providing clean water kits, hygiene items and shelter material, and distributing emergency food packages that can sustain a family of five for at least 10 days. 

Through our local office in Vietnam, we brought critical relief to displaced families across the country, many of whom were still reeling from widespread flooding and landslides when Typhoon Molave and Typhoon Vamco made landfall. While our team distributed emergency response kits, they met a woman named Dau who was thankful for receiving a kit from Samaritan’s Purse – which included supplies such as mosquito nets, pots and pans, hand soap, laundry detergent, washcloths, blankets, and toothbrushes and toothpaste – after she lost her home in the typhoon. Another man, Hop, was grateful to receive the relief items, after the floods swept away all of his belongings. 

Thousands of people in western Cambodia are still displaced after weeks of heavy rain and a hit from Tropical Storm Nangka. Immediately after the storm, our teams began distributing supplies such as food and water. We also provided non-food items such as blankets and hygiene kits.