By Jeff Brumley
Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship announced Friday it is partnering with an international aid group to provide funds and drinking water to victims of a typhoon that struck the Philippines earlier in the day.
Typhoon Haiyan — also being called a “super typhoon” because of its 1,120-mile size and sustained winds of 145 mph — covered the entire nation after making first landfall at 4:30 a.m. Friday, according to media reports.
Local radio initially reported 20 dead, but more accurate reports are expected as Saturday unfolds. CBF communications reported widespread power and communication outages.
It was also reported that CBF made a $2,500 donation to Conscience International to support water delivery teams working in Cebu City and North Cebu. An estimated 78,000 people in that region may be reached with 30-day supplies of drinking water in the coming weeks.
David Harding, international disaster relief manager for CBF, also appealed for financial contributions to help those affected by the storm.
“Funds are also needed to help move supplies that are already in the country to the people that have received a direct hit,” Harding said in a CBF news release. He added that the Fellowship will not be receiving gifts in kind or deploying its own volunteers, choosing instead to partner with local and regional organizations already in place in the Philippines.
The news release added that CBF does not currently have field personnel working in the Philippines, but it does have partners there. Those include Conscience International and the Asia Pacific Baptist Fellowship of the Baptist World Alliance.
Contributions may be made online to CBF or by mailing a check payable to CBF with “Acct. 17000” in the memo line to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392-1699.