There are catastrophies which make head-lines worldwide. Many people take note and show there empathy. Yet there are natural disasters which strike and hardly anybody takes knows it. This was  experienced last December, when Typhoon Nona with international name Melor makes landfall in Bicol and Eastern Visayas, Southern Luzon. Mimaropa and Metro Manila were on the path of the typhoon.

Preparations on national level has been made prior to expected landfall of Nona. That is why maybe the casualties in terms of numbers of death were minimal and therefore no attractive news item. Yet we shall never underestimate the hardship caused for the community affected. The suffering of families whose house was wiped away, so shortly before Christmas.

NACSEARelief does not respond because of headlines and media attention, but because of calls from those in need. From Manila communication was established with the local Rector of the NAC.  Reports were received of very serious damage to houses and churches.  Typhoon Nona caused most damaged in Mindoro and Romblon, we later learned.  On December 15th, D.El. Loloy Depaz was able to communicate with D.Ev. Paradejas who live in Sta. Maria, Calapan Mindoro.

On December 20, NACSEARELIEF field workers Cris Ronquillo and Rolex Navarro went to Mindoro. With uncertainty of road blockage and landslide, they each rode motorbike from Manila to Mindoro.

Relief operation benefited  total 115 families in three areas in Oriental Mindoro.

  1. Sta Maria, Nauhan
  2. Maningcol, Pinamalayan and
  3. Sitio Libtong, Baco.

In the coming weeks, house and church rebuilding  assistance is planed to take action.