SINGAPORE, June 17, 2022 – Mercy Relief responds to Tropical Storm Megi which hit the Philippines on April 10, 2022.

Locally named Agaton, the cyclone made landfall on Calicoan Island, Guiuan, before crossing the eastern and southern coasts of the Philippines. The resulting floods and landslides killed 212 people and displaced more than 800,000 residents. At least 2.2 million people have been affected by the cyclone as of April 25, 2022.

A Mercy Relief team departed for the Philippines on April 26 in response to a call from our Philippine ground partner Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC). Following a needs assessment by the CDRC, Mercy Relief will distribute relief supplies to affected residents in Capiz and Leyte provinces, which have been hard hit by the disaster, prompting a call for help from local authorities. Flooding in Capiz is said to be the worst in years, while the town of Baybay in Leyte has been declared uninhabitable due to landslides.

During several distribution operations, severely affected families in Leyte and Capiz will receive relief kits from Mercy Relief. Worth nearly S$80,000, Mercy Relief’s immediate response includes relief items such as rice, hygiene kits, cooking kits, mats and blankets. Local partners Leyte Center for Development, Inc (LCDE) and Panay Center for Disaster Response, Inc (PCDR) are also involved in distribution operations in Leyte and Capiz provinces, respectively.

In collaboration with LCDE, Mercy Relief conducted our first response to provide emergency assistance to 650 affected households in Leyte on April 28. As Capiz survivors remain displaced due to the severe devastation of their settlements and struggle to obtain daily necessities, Mercy Relief and PCDR will provide assistance to approximately 700 households by mid-June.

“Mercy Relief stands in solidarity with the victims of Tropical Storm Megi,” said Angelina Ong, Executive Director of Mercy Relief. “Our top priority is to provide emergency assistance to meet the basic food and hygiene needs of survivors, while ensuring adequate sleeping conditions. We will continue to work closely with our local partners to provide appropriate assistance when needed.

Mercy Relief will launch a public fundraising appeal in Singapore from June 17 to July 17, 2022 and aims to raise $50,000 for the response operation. Members of the public can donate through the following channels:

• Crowdfunding through

• Donate by credit card through the Mercy Relief website: https://www.mercyrelief.org/donate/

• Transfer funds to Mercy Relief DBS current account 054-900741-2. In the Comments field, indicate “Relief from Tropical Storm Megi”.

• Crossed check payable to “Mercy Relief Limited” with “Relief from Tropical Storm Megi 2022”, name of the donor and e-mail address written on the back of the check, and sent by post to Blk 160 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Tropical Storm Megi 2022 Relief

Thank you for supporting Tropical Storm Megi 2022 relief efforts.

We are committed to serving those in need during the emergency phase of disaster. We seek your patience and kind understanding regarding the timeliness of our responses to your questions about Mercy Relief’s operations in the Philippines.

This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document contains answers to common questions about our current disaster relief efforts in the Philippines and details on how you can contribute to ongoing initiatives. The information below may already answer some of your existing questions.

Background

Also known as Tropical Storm Agaton in the Philippines, the cyclone made landfall on Calicoan Island, Guiuan, before making its way across the east and south coasts. Torrential rains caused flooding and fatal landslides.

As of April 25, 2022, 212 deaths have been reported and 132 missing, while over 800,000 people have been displaced and over 2.2 million affected.

We need your help! With your donations, we can continue to help displaced communities on their path to recovery.

No donation is too small and every dollar helps save lives.

Your help can go a long way, donate now.

Impact as of April 25, 2022

Deaths: 212

Displaced: more than 800,000

Affected: more than 2.2 million

Immediate relief efforts

Q1: What are Mercy Relief’s initiatives in response to the storm in the Philippines?

Mercy Relief will distribute relief kits containing rice, hygiene kits and cooking kits to meet the urgent needs of displaced communities. For the latest updates on our efforts, you can stay up to date via our Facebook page.

Donations

Q2: What is Mercy Relief’s primary fundraising campaign for Tropical Storm Megi Relief 2022?

A: Mercy Relief has applied for a public fundraising permit to raise funds in Singapore, to support relief efforts in the Philippines, from June 17 to July 17, 2022.

Q3: How can I donate?

A: Donations can be made through the following channels:

1. Via our crowdfunding campaign on Giving.sg, Give.asia and SimplyGiving.

2. Funds transfer to Mercy Relief DBS current account 054-900741-2. In the Invoice reference field, please indicate “Relief from Tropical Storm Megi 2022“.

3. Donate by credit card through the Mercy Relief website: www.mercyrelief.org/join/donate

4. Cross-check at Mercy Relief Limited with “Relief from Tropical Storm Megi 2022” and your email address on the back of the cheque, and mail it to Blk 160 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160.

5. Cash donations at Blk 160 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, #01-1568, Singapore 310160.

Q4: Will I get a tax exemption for a donation to the relief of Tropical Storm Megi 2022?

A: Donations for foreign purposes are not tax deductible. Tax exemption is allowed for donations to an IPC (Public Character Institutions) for its local facilities and programs. Tax exemption is not allowed at the IPC if the donations are for foreign charitable purposes.

Q5: What percentage of these donations will go towards the relief of Tropical Storm Megi 2022?

A: Mercy Relief retains no more than 5% of administrative fees for any fundraising campaigns or public appeals for relief overseas.

Q6: How are the funds used? As a donor, how can I be sure that the funds are going exclusively to relief efforts against Tropical Storm Megi?

A: Donated funds will be used to meet essential survival needs such as food, hygiene kits and non-food items during this acute phase of relief for affected communities.

All funds raised for Tropical Storm Megi 2022 relief will be used solely for humanitarian efforts in support of the affected population.

Donors will also receive a report on our activities after the 3rd month and at the end.

Q7: I want to start a fundraising campaign in my school/business/organization. What do I do?

A: Mercy Relief welcomes collaborations with potential groups/individuals for fundraising initiatives to support ongoing relief efforts for those affected by Tropical Storm Megi 2022 Relief. You can also start your own crowdfunding campaign ongiving.sg to support our fundraising efforts. For further discussions, please email us at [email protected]

Q8: I would like to donate old clothes, canned goods, shoes, etc. Do you accept in-kind donations?

A: Mercy Relief is currently do not accept in-kind donations due to logistical, storage and transportation constraints. During this critical phase of disaster relief, cash donations provide us with greater flexibility and efficiency in sourcing and delivering relief supplies to victims who need them most. This also minimizes the duplication of relief items on affected terrain.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution, please refer to the available donation channels above.

Q9: I want to volunteer for the rescue mission! How can I apply?

A: Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Mercy Relief. Mercy Relief deploys only trained personnel to its overseas relief missions to ensure the safety and security of all volunteers and the smooth running of relief operations.

For local volunteer engagements, please email us at [email protected] to express your interest in volunteering and our volunteer coordinator will contact you for opportunities.

Q10: How can I get the latest updates on Mercy Relief and Tropical Storm Megi 2022 Relief?

A: Visit our official website at mercirelief.org for the latest news on our relief and recovery efforts for survivors in the Philippines. Timely updates with photos will also be posted on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MercyReliefOfficial, so be sure to follow us there!

You can also follow the hashtag #MercyRelief (on FB and Instagram) for relevant updates.

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