In response to the widespread devastation caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) which struck the northeastern Philippines in late October, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated food, water, clothing, temporary shelter, and essential supplies to support recovery efforts and help families rebuild their lives.
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According to the country’s disaster operations agency, the death toll from Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon has risen to 150, with 115 people injured and 29 still missing. Days of torrential rains brought on by Kristine triggered severe flooding across multiple regions in Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island group, as well as parts of the Visayas.
Over 4.2 million people, or nearly one million families, have been affected in Luzon provinces, with losses estimated at over PHP 5 billion (US$85.67 million) in agriculture and infrastructure. Almost 187,000 people required rescue from disaster response teams and uniformed personnel.
To support government relief efforts, the Church's humanitarian and emergency response program provided more than PHP 17.5 million (US$300,000) worth of food and water kits, hygiene supplies, survival kits, and temporary shelter for affected Latter-day Saints and members of other faiths. As of this writing, more than 16,100 families have received the above-mentioned relief kits, with additional aid on the way.
Additionally, 31 Latter-day Saint meetinghouses in affected areas opened as temporary shelters, accommodating nearly 1,000 people. Apart from emergency kits, the Church also activated the Bishop's Order System, processing over 500 orders for additional relief goods.
Hundreds of Latter-day Saints and missionaries, many affected by the storm themselves, have joined efforts to repack and distribute supplies and assist in rescue operations for neighbors trapped by intense flooding.
In the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan—a tradition of community cooperation and mutual support—Latter-day Saints have also participated in relief efforts, donating their time and resources to help their neighbors rebuild.