Bonn, 4th December 2006. Deutsche Welthungerhilfe has mobilized 50,000 euros for immediate relief to help the victims of Typhoon Durian. The money will be primarily used for emergency aid packets (including rice, noodles, medicine). At a later date materials will be supplied for the reconstruction of destroyed houses and nursery schools. Seed will also be distributed since harvests have been wiped out in the face of four tropical storms over the past six months.

Welthungerhilfe is focusing its relief on the municipality of Santo Domingo (Albay province) in the eastern Philippines, where a total of 30,000 people have their homes. Welthungerhilfe has been active in the region since the early 1990s, supporting its partner organisation SADOPECO in the running of 15 kindergartens. In addition to classes, children attending these nursery schools also receive special food to compensate for nutritional deficiencies.

2,700 houses were completely destroyed in Santo Domingo alone. Another 1,970 houses were partly destroyed. In addition, 15 kindergartens were badly damaged. "Fortunately the disaster occurred at night-time," points out Gerhard Uhrmacher, Welthungerhilfe's Desk Officer, "which means the children weren't there at the time."

According to the latest figures, 200 people died in Santo Domingo. As a result of the typhoons and heavy rains, the mudslides and spree from the Mayon volcano careered down into the valley. "Banana plants and coconut palms were snapped in two, the rice paddy fields washed away," says Uhrmacher. "Local people have lost the basic food for their staple diet."

For further information see www.welthungerhilfe.de

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