CAMELEON Association

Emergency aid for flooding in the Philippines

The latest updates from the field Thanks to the generosity of our donors across the world, electrical and plumbing repairs were done and a temporary fence was built by Filipino workers and volunteers. The girls are now kept safe while the works are in progress on the riverbanks. Unfortunately, the repair do not prevent the ground's flooding as the water keep stagnating when it rains. CAMELEON's team continue to mobilize to ensure the girl's comfort and help the beneficiary families. An initial analysis of the damage was conducted by engineers from the Department of Public Works to determine the total amount of repairs. The rehabilitation works of the damaged ground are estimated at $78 000. In addition, the engineers strongly advised the construction of structures to maintain the river banks and thus control flooding. They will prevent future landslides. Their cost is approximately $94 000. This work will be necessary in a country that has more than 20 typhoons a year. Your financial help is necessary to protect the children from natural disasters and to ensure their safety. Thank you for your continuous support! Project overview After typhoon Phanfone and the earthquake that hit the Philippines a year ago for Christmas, heavy monsoon rains and flooding took place on January 1 and 8, 2021. The flood heavily affected the island of Negros. 70,000 people were affected, including CAMELEON's children, families and staff. We kindly appeal to your generosity for repairing damages, in particular in our center where 26 young girls aged 5 to 17 are sheltered with 8 staff, to strengthen and rebuild the perimeter fence. In Silay, more than 28,800 people were affected by the floods. In CAMELEON's center, young girl survivors of sexual abuse and our staff are thankfully safe but frightened because the river overflowed several meters inwards to the center. Damage assessments (eroded soil) is, for the front fence 89 meters damaged, for the side fence, 20 meters damaged, the total is 1 780 meters eroded. Families of CAMELEON girls and staff were also affected by the flood. Their houses were damaged. How will the funds be used? Damage assessments were already done. They recommend building a breakwater structure to prevent soil erosion and stabilize soil surface during heavy floods and rains (by planting giant bamboos). A temporary fence will be built in place to ensure safety of the girls and staff in the center. Moreover, the flood caused damages to the houses of families of CAMELEON girls and staff. They would need to repair said damages as well as elevate part of their flooring which was affected by the flood. Our local teams are mobilized to secure our center to ensure the safety of the girls and staff as well as the property. Evacuation Plan for the girls and staff in the center is already in place. For the long term, CAMELEON is going to rebuild and strengthen the perimeter wall of the center. The houses of families of CAMELEON girls and staff will be repaired too. Already achieved: - Providing food and basic necessities for the families of our beneficiaries - Expertise, analysis of the damage and checking the solidity of the existing foundations - Construction of a temporary wall until the river banks are reinforced - Cleaning and repairing the damaged buildings in our host house - Purchasing destroyed equipment (water pump, electrical system, plumbing, paint) - Repairing the houses of the beneficiaries and the staff Yet to be financed and realized: - Consolidation of the river banks: construction of support structures - Rebuilding of a new concrete perimeter fence - Planting of trees and giant bamboos to prevent erosion of the land - Rehabilitation of the land on 1780m2