http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/typhoon-haiyan-update

NEWS RELEASE —  8 NOVEMBER 2013

Typhoon Haiyan Update: Church Supplying Relief Supplies to Those in Need

Leaders Establishing Contact with Members, Missionaries

SALT LAKE CITY — 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expresses condolences to the millions affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and is providing shelter, food, water and other basic supplies to evacuees and displaced families.

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The eye of Typhoon Haiyan as seen from space© Satellite map courtesy of NOAA. All rights reserved.

An estimated 700,000 people are now displaced. In areas impacted by the storm, particularly in the eastern coastal regions, transportation, power and communication networks are down.

All Mormon missionaries serving in the Church’s 21 Filipino missions are accounted for, with the exception of some serving in the Philippines Tacloban Mission. Before the typhoon, missionaries had been moved to areas where they would be adequately sheltered, and the Church is working to establish contact with Tacloban mission leaders.

“A Church Welfare Department employee is traveling to the island of Leyte with communication equipment to establish contact with the Tacloban mission president,” said Stephen B. Allen, Missionary Department managing director. "We plan to be in communication with those in Leyte by Saturday in the Philippines.”

Efforts are also underway to make contact with Church members. More than 14,000 members and others have sought refuge in 200 Church meetinghouses.

As daylight comes, the Church anticipates that missionaries throughout the country will begin assisting those in need.

Local Church leaders will spend the weekend assessing further needs of both members and the community. 

Additional information will be posted on Mormon Newsroom as it becomes available.

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