Camillian Task Force - Central

Quarterly Bulletin

C
T
yphoon Sendong (international code name: Washi) washed away entire villages as it whipped the southern part of the Philippines in the early hours of Saturday, December 17. In its aftermath, Typhoon Sendong left a trail of flattened homes, broken bridges and upended vehicles in the Northern Mindanao Region. The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on the island of Mindanao were worst hit when typhoon hit shore late on Friday and early on Saturday, sending torrents of water and mud through villages and stripping mountainsides bare. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), typhoon Sendong affected a total of number of 114,228 families or 724,729 persons in 804 barangays, in 57 municipalities and 8 cities in the 13 provinces of Region VI, Region VII, Region IX, Region X, Region XI, CARAGA and the ARMM. Death toll mainly caused by flashfloods and landslides which swept away houses into rivers and out to sea induced by Typhoon Sendong has reached 1,257 mostly were women and children; 4,649 persons were injured; 441 persons were rescued while 85 more persons still missing. As retrieval operations are still going on, thousands of fami-

ROSS

OVER
Issue No. 1 October - December 2011
and Rehabilitation Center and Community Based Health Services Northern Mindanao which is based in

sendong sends people away empty

lies are still staying in evacuation as their houses were destroyed and

swept away by flash floods. The NDRRMC also reported that a total of 45,968 houses were damaged (totally 13,369 /partially 32,599). Grassroots based nongovernment organizations are right now responding to the disaster situation and are appealing for immediate assistance through a consortium called Help Northern Mindanao (HNM). HNM is headed by the Rural Missionaries in the PhilippinesNorthern Mindanao which is based in Iligan City, Panday-Bulig Relief

Cagayan de Oro City, and Sentro Kitanglad in Metro Manila. HNM reported that the affected populations are in great need of food, water, clothing, blankets, medicines, etc. A first wave of relief delivery operation in three affected barangays of Macasandig, Carmen and Balulang in Cagayan de oro was conducted last December 23, 2011 where more than served. CTF Philippines has donated an initial amount of 500,000 Php (8,824.84 EUR) for the said relief
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operation. Fr. Meng Barawid, MI, CTF Mindanao regional coordinator has coordinated and established collaboration with HNM. A mobile medical team composed by the personnel of St. Camillus Hospital Mati, Davao Medical Center and the Lay Camillian Family - Davao will be dispatched on the 6th of January to the areas (Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City) worst hit by the flood. Meanwhile, CTF Philippines is now exploring and studying the possibility of designing a more comprehensive humanitarian mission. Fr. Meng is tasked to meet its main grassroot partner, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Northern Mindanao region (RMP NMR) and discuss future intervention in the field of rehabilitation and advocacy or disaster mitigation in the flood stricken area.
Fr. Meng Barawid, MI

In the Wake of Typhoon Pedring

edring, a heavy typhoon, slammed into the Philippine area of responsibility on September 26, 2011, which is the second anniversary of Typhoon Ketsana that devastated the entire Luzon islands in the Philippines. It left behind a wake of massive destruction and loss of lives. Metro Manila was severely affected, especially the low lying areas of Navotas, Malabon and Valenzuela. Marikina City, which was inundated with massive flooding during Typhoon Ketsana, was also heavily hit. The relocation area of Balubad bore the brunt of Pedrings onslaught. Headed by Fr. Samuel A. Cuarto, MI, chairperson of Health for All Foundation, Inc., and a collaborator of the Camillian Task Force - Philippines covering Marikina City, a relief operation team composed of the organized Damayan communities of Marikina Heights leapt into action. The intervention was small scale with funding support from Canada and the Camillian Task Force Central in Rome, Italy. A total of 200 families were targeted for intervention. All of them are residents in the resettlement
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Northern Mindanao is composed of 4 provinces: Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and the island of Camiguin. It has 5 cities: Ozamis, Oroquieta, Tangub, Gingoog and Cagayan do Oro. Its eastern boundary is Surigao del Sur, the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur on the west, Bohol Sea on the north and Davao del Norte on the south. This region has broad interior plains, as well as mountains and an extensive plateau. It has a total land area of 14,033 sq. kms. and Cagayan de Oro is its regional capital. The region had a total population of 2,738,000 in 2000. This increased by 9.3% from its population of 2,483,272 in 1995. In 1990, less than a million residents live in the urban areas as compared to 1,204,205 (55%) living in the countryside.

The name CROSSOVER was inspired by the gospel of Mark (4:35-41) when Jesus invited his disciples to cross over to the other side of the lake and their boat was battered by heavy storm that it almost sank. Fear had overshadowed them and Jesus rose from sleep and calmed the sea. Just like St. Camillus in his time who crossed over the confines of the hospitals and came to rescue the victims of floods, war and pestilence. The enormous strength and enduring compassion of the Camillians are demonstrated during these times of war and calamities. CROSSOVER attempts to bring to you the news and events of the CTF in the world. It envisions to enrich the memory of our past through the present realities and challenges us to propel the steering wheel onwards and actively engage in the signs of the times.

CROSSOVER

Everybody is invited to contribute their stories, views, reflections and news in the field of humanitarian and pastoral mission. Please send to ctf@camilliani.org.

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PAGE 3 area of Balubad in Barangay Nangka. A very few were from the informal settlements along Apitong St., in Marikina Heights where Camillus MedHaven
is located. CTF Philippines had distributed food (rice, assorted groceries) and non-food (mosquito nets, towels, blankets) items to a total of 200 families. Meanwhile, CTF Philippines had launched also an appeal to the public as well as to the Camillian communities to donate in kind and cash for the flood victims.
Fr. Sam Cuarto, MI

Ecumenical service for the victims of the flashflood in Mindanao

I wish I had a hundred arms to respond to the needs of thousands of sick people.
St. Camillus de Lellis

C T F C O M BAT s M A L N U T R I T I O N I N T H E H O R N O F A F R I C A

he Camillian Task Force (CTF), a humanitarian mission office of the Order of the Ministers of the Infirm (Camillians), is responding to the appeal of the Pope on behalf of the Horn of Africa particularly in the Diocese of Garissa. After a month and a half of assessment in the area of Wajir County, emergency programs have been proposed and at present is in the initial phase of its implementation. The target villages are Alimaow, Barwaqoo, Maalim Salat, Makoror, Hodhan and Jogoo. The following programs are: 1) blanket supplementary feeding with particular attention to the children aging 4-5 years old and the elderly aging 60+ years old, 2) Mobile clinic designed to provide basic health care services and a closer follow up of children who are severely malnourished. This package includes the augmenting the capacity of the dispensary operated by the Camillian Sisters in the area, 3)To provide access to potable water for human and animal consumption in the village of Lakole north and south, and 4) food production scheme in the village of Lafaley. For the past three months, CTF was able to distribute food (12 kgs of rice and 6 kgs of beans) to 2,956 children aging 4-5 years old out of 3,500 children targeted. This amounts to a total of 710 bags of rice and 355 bags of beans.

The first distribution was done to facilitate the screening of malnourished children in those villages. Using the standards of mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and the body mass index (BMI), the children are categorized into the various levels of malnutrition. Children who fell under severe malnutrition level will now be given more attention for the second up to the sixth distribution cycle. At this period, an integrated mobile health clinic and health education will be conducted in those villages in collaboration with the mothers, community health care workers and the elders. It is predicted that 30% of those who have been screened are moderately and severely malnourished. By the end of April 2012, the CTF expects to reduce the number of malnourished children by 5%. In January the screening of the adult beneficiaries (60 years old and above) will be conducted in the villages mentioned above. The CTF has mobilized its team to conduct a second survey to identify the elderly who are bedridden. On the other hand, the CTF will start installing the solar powered pump at Lakoley, northern part of Wajir. Arrangement with the community and negotiations with the contractor and service provider has been achieved recently. The pro(Continue on page 4)

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PAGE 4 chief wrote a letter of apology to the team acknowledging their failure to provide order during the distribution and mean their ways and conduct. It is also heartwarming to hear

ject will commence on the first week of January and scheduled to finish before the end of January. This project will benefit approximately a total of 10,000 settlers and about 50,000 animals (breeding stock). The use of renewable and environment friendly energy will cut down as much as 75% of the operational cost of sustaining the pump.

Using the strategy of collaborative and participatory approach in all projects (4), the CTF aims to build bridges between the Catholic church and the muslim Somali communiSr. Benta, CS and Bro. Joseph, MI monitored the childrens nutritional level. ties. Dialogue with the chief, from the people how grateful they are for the help and even the elders of the community and the representatives of the give some token (fruits) in return no matter how little they Kenyan government has been conducted. The initial diahave. This way develops mutual respect and generates better logue, gathering of information and brainstorming was collaboration. done in their respective communities itself while the planning and coming up of strategies of implementation was The CTF mission has brought people to the center and done at the Catholic Mission Center of Wajir. The distribumade them aware of the health services that it offers. In fact, tion of food was it has been noted by the Sisters that since the distribution done also at the censtarted, the number of patients seen everyday is increasing. the CTF aims to build ter three times a bridges between the Catholic They appreciate also the quality of care and affordability of week except the vilservice that were given to them. church and the muslim lage of Makoror due From this experience itself, we are more convinced that Somali communities. to its distance from the greatest arm of the Church to combat poverty, hardships the center. In Maand suffering is charity, the unconditional love of the comkoror, the CTF team went to the village for two days. passionate Christ to his people; a love that is based on truth, This approach has facilitated the team to get integrated into the target areas itself. It is indeed very encouraging to hear from some village chiefs and elders who said that, while we are at the Catholic mission center we need to respect your rules and regulations because this is a sacred place and while you are in our villages we owe to protect you at all cost. There were also some minor confrontations with the chief and elders but we immediately settled the problem at that day by gathering them for a dialogue and identifying the problem. In fact, after few days the village justice and respect for ones differences. The key to our approach is personal (person centered) and not just only goal centered. The CTF mission has challenged also other young Christians and muslims to participate and contribute in their own little ways. In fact, one of the members of the team is a Muslim. Thus, humanitarian mission does not only bring material benefits to the victims but also builds community of persons . ******
Bro. Joseph Khiyaniri, MI

Children aging 4-5 years old are waiting for their names to be called for the screening and food rationing.

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CTF THAI FLOOD RELIEF OPERATION

ANGKOK - Since August, Thailand has experienced an unprecedented heavy monsoon rains in five decades that flooded most of the north, northeast and central part of Thailand. To date, more than 2.3 million people have been affected, with 283 confirmed dead. At least 3.8 million acres of farmland have been inundated and over a thousand industries ceased its operation. CTF Thailand through Fr. Rocco Pairat, MI, the CTF local coordinator and executive secretary of Caritas Thailand, the Camillian vice-province and civic and religious organizations have joined hands to help the flood victims in the periphery of Bangkok (Latkrabang) and the provinces of Ayuthayyah, Uthai Thani and Nakorn Sawan. The major collaborators of this effort are Caritas, Catholic Bishop Conference of Thailand (CBCT), COERR, NCCM, SDO, Catholic Health Care Provider, and the medical team from Camillian Hospital. They organized distribution of survival kit (rice, dry goods, basic medicines, water), lifevests for the community rescue team and medical mission in most affected areas. Just in Nakorn Sawan

to their home country while some of them remained at the border. Until now, the CTF continues its effort of bringing relief to

alone a total of 3,200 families in 22 villages have benefited of the programs. The beneficiaries of the intervention program were properly identified by the local organizations (Church and civic). Most of the victims were primarily distressed and traumatized. Most of them were shocked by the recent flood. According to the latest health situation report, there were about 90,000 victims suffered from shocked and stress related syndrome. Psychosocial intervention is being demanded at this time to prevent mental health problem. They said that they never had an experience like this since 50 years ago. Those places mentioned above are primarily a convergence zone of the 4 rivers that flow through Thailand from the North. Over a hundred thousand workers left jobless as more than 1,000 companies have closed down their operations. Migrant Burmese population were very much affected also since most of them are factory workers. They were left with no other option but to return

the victims. Fr. Paul, vice provincial said: Our activities will focus on relief operation with three components: i.e. humanitarian, medical and pastoral components through providing services in the areas of social and health for the most needed people in the flooded areas. For the distribution of survival kits they targeted 3,000 families in ten different localities. They planned also to serve the needs of 5 farming communities identified by helping them to rehabilitate their main source of livelihood. They are also organizing medical camps in 10 communities particularly in the Central part of Thailand. The medical mission is on-going and they have covered already several communities in Nakorn Sawan, Ladkrabang, Ratchaburi and Bangkok. CTF mission in Thailand is supported by the CTF Central, SOS-DRS, provincial administration (Thai & Lombardo), PROSA, civic and religious organizations, and generous individuals. *****
Fr. Rocco Pairat, MI

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Bringing Access to Potable Water Supply in Khusphur

he Camillians continue working for the people in Pakistan since last year when the flood hit the country. They started working in the dioceses of Multan, Faisalabad and

sentatives of the two committees working for the development of the village, thanked also the Camillians for their support. Bro. Mushtaq Anjum, MI said that the project envisions that water born diseases will, if not eliminated, be minimized. The health of the people will get better. The St. Camillus Clean Drinking Water plant becomes a challenge and an opportunity for the community to work together for the common good and an opportunity to witness the love of Christ to others. The total cost of the project was about 2.2 million PKR ($26,000.00 USD). The Camillians had expressed their gratitude to the donors and collaborators of this project such as the Itaian Bishops' Conference (CEI), Camillians-Philippine Province, Pro.Sa- Italy, SOS-DRS-USA and the local contributors who generously supported the CTF's initiatives in Pakistan. Meanwhile, the CTF had continued its relief operation in the Diocese of Hyderabad due to the recent flood that hit the province last October. Fr. Mushtaq, a newly ordained Camillian and CTF representative to Pakistan had said, for the past weeks and even more than a month, I was working with our local collaborators in preparing winter package for the flood victims in Sindh Province. Together with Friends of St. Camillus, Holy Family Sisters and Lay Camillian Family- Okara, Pakistan, we arranged 400 winter packages for the flood affected families. ***** Fr. Mushtaq Anjum, MI

Hyderabad. In their effort to improve the lives of the people affected by floods, heavy rains and other man-made calamities, they, after a long reflection, initiated a project of providing clean drinking water. They put up "St. Camillus Clean Drinking Water Center- Khushpur, Faisalabad." This is a village of seventhousand (7,000) people including some Muslim families. The condition of drinking water was very bad. So many were getting sick of water born diseases. Fr. Aris Miranda, MI, Bro. Luca Perletti, MI and Fr. Mushtaq Anjum, MI, the representatives of the Order of the Ministers of the Infirm (Camillians) worked hard to implement this project. October 2, 2011 was the most memorable day. Bp. Joseph Coutts, bishop of the Diocese of Faisalabad, in the presence of the villagers, nuns, parish priest Fr. Anjum Nazir and Fr. Zafar Iqbal and Bro. Mushtaq Anjum, MI have blessed the facility. Bp. Joseph Coutts, during this occasion, has congratulated the people and expressed his gratitude to the Camillians who took the initiative of providing this wonderful water filter plant which has reverse osmosis system and can produce 20 gallons of purified water per minute. Around 1,300 families will benefit from this plant. Mr. Karamat Jameel and Mr. Hameed Rasheed, the repre-

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CTF ASIAN VISIT

ROME - From late September to mid-October 2011, three
visits by the CTF Central in India, Vietnam and Thailand were conducted. The objective was to identify the conditions for initiating or consolidating the activities of the provinces/delegations in the field of emergency in their respective country. Various meetings were conducted with the provincial administration, with the CTF volunteers and staff in order to understand and reflect together the courses of action taken in the past or still ongoing by the CTF in the field of disaster. The meeting with our confreres became an opportunity to verify what has been done so far by the region and to share the importance of the mission and work of the CTF. It has been agreed and affirmed during the meetings to work together in the field of formation and to utilize the Camillian health facilities in preparing for a possible intervention in situation of emergency. Thailand and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a period of two years that will assure mutual commitment to work together in the coming months.

CAMILLIAN TASK FORCE

Camilliani Piazza della Maddalena, 53 00186 Rome, IT Tel.: +32 0689928174 Fax: +32 0689928175 E-mail: ctf@camilliani.org

ANNOUNCEMENT
CTF ASIA WORKHSOP SEMINAR

Witnessing the merciful love of Christ to the victims of natural and human-made disasters.
18 Nicanor Reyes St., Loyola Hts. QC, PHILIPPINES

ST. CAMILLUS PASTORAL CENTER

www.camilliani.org

Camillianum - Istituto Internazionale di Teologia Pastorale Sanitaria

Lgo. Respighi 6, Rome, IT www.camillianum.com

February 1-5, 2012

PASTORALE DEMERGENZA
(Pastoral Care of Emergency)
February 24 - May 4, 2012 (4hr session every Friday)
The course aims to articulate the various forms of intervention in the event of natural or man-made calamities to the affected and most vulnerable populace physically, psychologically and spiritually in the field of pastoral healthcare. Its primary objective is to study the impact of the disaster to the personal and social life of the persons affected and the community where they belong.