By Andrew Clarke

Published at 11:36, Thursday, 20 December 2012

A WHITEHAVEN resident has launched an urgent appeal to support her compatriots devastated by a typhoon in the Philippines.

plea: Christine Kerssies

Christine Kerssies’ uncle was killed and a number of family members lost their homes when Typhoon Bopha struck the southern Philippines earlier this month.

Almost 1,000 people are confirmed dead and the same number of people are missing since the tragic typhoon struck.

Christine, who lives in Whitehaven with her husband Jeffrey, is asking for the public’s help to send a donation back to her homeland to help pay for food and shelter for those affected.

“Nothing can be more terrifying than seeing on the news your fellow countrymen suffer; losing their homes and their lives,” she said.

“Our family is only one of the hundreds who have lost a loved one; thousands of lives are going to be changed.

“My heart was wrenched hearing the agony of the people; I was distressed seeing and hearing the suffering of my mother and my family. Being on the other side of the world, all I was able to do was close my eyes and pray.

“It was the first major typhoon that has ever occurred in the region. People didn’t know what to expect.

“A lot of people are now homeless. People compete for rations just to feed their hungry families.

“The livelihoods of the areas which are heavily affected are mostly in farming, fishing and mining. Now it’s all gone.

“Relief goods are coming in from a number of agencies, but there is no doubt a huge amount of help is still needed.

“We may not be able to bring back the lives lost but we have the chance to make a difference to those who are left.”

Make a donation at Lloyds TSB in Whitehaven to account Typhoon Bopha – Help Philippinnes (account 43252968/sort 775612).

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk