Several Christian Churches in the Philippines have encouraged the public to provide support to victims of widespread floods due to extreme weather conditions in Mindanao.

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines issued an appeal to local churches, partner churches, and organizations for monetary assistance that “will be utilized for the delivery and distribution of essential food packs, hygiene kits, and medicines”.

Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic Church, also called for donations for the affected families in the southern Philippines. The organization also encouraged other Catholic dioceses to send aid. 

The death toll from the effects of bad weather due to a trough of a low-pressure area and the northeast monsoon (Amihan) in parts of Mindanao has climbed to 18, according to the Philippine News Agency.

In its latest situation report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) stated that the reported deaths in the Davao Region, along with 11 injured and three missing persons, are currently undergoing validation. 

Approximately 324,040 families, equivalent to over 1.2 million individuals across 723 villages in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, have been adversely affected by the recent extreme weather conditions.

Of this total, 25,477 families (97,603 persons) are receiving assistance in 380 evacuation centers, while an additional 175,370 families (697,454 persons) are being aided outside these centers.

The Office of Civil Defense has clarified that the affected families encompass both those displaced and those not requiring relocation from their residences.

A total of 785 houses have been reported as damaged in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Caraga. The situation remains dynamic, and ongoing efforts are being made to assess and address the impact of the floods in the affected regions. – with reports from the Philippine News Agency