Water Missions International, FedEx, Pentair Provide Safe Water for Typhoon Haiyan Victims
First phase of response provides vital safe drinking water for 160,000 people
Contact: Mollie Williams, 843-769-7395, 864-419-6204 cell
CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 11, 2013 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Water Missions International has mobilized treatment equipment and staff members as phase one of relief efforts to provide safe drinking water to victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan. Two disaster response water treatment systems sponsored by FedEx, 20 safe water treatment systems funded by The Pentair Foundation and 10 potable water chlorinators will be able to provide safe drinking water for the daily needs of 160,000 people in communities surrounding Cebu, Philippines, one of the most impacted areas.
"Safe drinking water is the number one need in the aftermath of a disaster. Deadly waterborne diseases spread rampantly in contaminated and untreated water and can be fatal in a matter of hours," said George Greene IV, PE, president and chief operating officer at Water Missions International.
Water Missions International has the ability to provide even more assistance to victims, but is currently limited by available funding to provide ongoing relief. To donate to their efforts, please visit
my.watermissions.org/disaster-response.
"Our specialty is water and sanitation. In addition to our own efforts, we're coming alongside other major aid organizations as their implementing partner for the water component of aid relief. We are in dialogue with UNICEF about partnering with other organizations providing aid as we actively carry out our own response," said Greene.
Water Missions International is also providing back-up solar power options in the event the supply chain for fuel is impacted.
"We are fortunate that our extensive experience working in Indonesia, another country of island chains, brings an understanding of the unique logistics requirements to move equipment and people across multiple islands," said Greene. "It will be challenging. There could be isolated pockets of people all over the place, but Water Missions International has unique experience in these type of conditions and we are working to provide as much relief as possible."
As the storm continues to head toward other nations, Water Missions International will closely monitor the situation and respond as needed.
Previously, Water Missions International has responded to some of the largest natural disasters around the world, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2008 Sichuan China earthquake, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. Most recently the organization provided safe water treatment systems to victims of disastrous flooding in southern Mexico this past September.
To learn more and donate to Water Missions International's disaster relief efforts, please visit
www.watermissions.org.
About Water Missions International
Water Missions International is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization providing sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Using state-of-the-art technology and engineering expertise, the organization has provided access to safe water for more than 2.4 million people in 49 countries on five continents since 2001. Water Missions International implements customized solutions through a comprehensive community development model in its ten permanent country programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Notably, Charity Navigator has awarded Water Missions International their top rating seven years in a row, a distinction shared by only two percent of the charities rated by the organization. To learn more about Water Missions International, visit www.watermissions.org.
