Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on World Vision operations
In support of public health recommendations outlined by the World Health Organization, some sponsorship program activities have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19. Activities may include sponsor queries and correspondence, sponsor visits, gift notifications and gift deliveries. These temporary suspensions may affect the information you receive from us in the coming weeks and months.
Learn more about our response to COVID-19.
Update on Super Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines
Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall in the Philippines on Saturday, September 15th as a Category 5 hurricane. This was the strongest storm anywhere on the planet in 2018, with wind speeds reaching 285 kph. As last reported by the Philippines government, approximately 893,833 people have been impacted. The death toll has increased to more than 64 people, and the number of missing and injured also continues to rise.
“We are desperately concerned for the lives and safety of 10 million people living within the 900km diameter of Typhoon Mangkhut,” said Rommel Fuerte, National Director at World Vision Philippines. “World Vision staff have been deployed on the ground ready to respond. This typhoon is likely to cause huge devastation. Millions of children are at risk.”
Typhoon Mangkhut is the strongest storm to make landfall on the Philippines' northern island of Luzon since Super Typhoon Megi in 2010. Since World Vision Canada does not have sponsorship communities in Luzon, no Canadian sponsored children have been impacted.
World Vision is in close coordination with local government units and other agencies, monitoring the situation on the ground. There have been reports of landslides, blocked roads, destroyed homes and extensive crop damage. We are beginning initial distribution of relief items—namely food, shelter and hygiene supplies.
Please pray for those affected in the Philippines as well as Hong Kong and Mainland China, as Typhoon Mangkhut continues on its path beyond the Philippines.
New updates to the situation in the Philippines will be posted to this page. For more information, please call us at 1-800-654-2650.
Donate now to help vulnerable children and their families affected by this crisis and others with life-saving essentials like food, hygiene kits and more.
Other priorities for children in the Philippines are child protection, education, health and nutrition and economic empowerment. World Vision Philippines promotes thriving communities where peace and justice prevail and all can enjoy security, opportunity and happiness. We do this by coming alongside the poor and vulnerable, building their capacity to be agents of sustainable change.