Antonio is 74. He lives with his three grandchildren in a house made from a few sheets of tin and plywood perched on a riverbank. Antonio's family live in constant fear of heavy rains which cause the river to quickly burst its banks. When this happens Antonio's family can easily become trapped by the rising water. Without a rescue boat to evacuate them Antonio and his family could easily lose their lives in a major flood.
The Philippines is one of the world's most disaster prone countries. In an average year it's affected by more than 20 typhoons, and that number is rising because of climate change. The community of Banaba is very flood prone and when rivers burst their banks its residents are often trapped by the quickly rising water. Elderly residents, like Antonio, and young children are the most vulnerable and their lives are often in most danger during floods.
Your donations to this project will provide a large fiber-glass rescue boat. These boats are crewed by local residents, trained in first aid and swift-water rescue. These crews jump into action during floods and help their neighbours who have become trapped. A large boat can hold twelve evacuees like Antonio. Your donations will meet Antonio's share of the total boat cost.
The boats you provide will help keep evacuees like Antonio safe during floods for years to come. Your donations will continue to protect his family from the worst impacts of disaster, even as climate change causes ever more frequent flooding.
