July 4, 2008 

OTTAWA—The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is appealing to co-operators and credit union members across Canada for financial support to aid victims of the recent typhoons in the Philippines.

Among the organizations impacted by the recent disaster is the National Federation of Co-operatives of People with Disabilities, a CCA-supported partner. The federation represents worker co-ops throughout the Philippines.

 Help is especially needed in the next two weeks to provide essentials such as clean water, food and clothing alongside reconstruction of housing and restoration of co-operative facilities which are the main source of income for some 730 family members.

 The entire province of Iloilo in the Visayas region was declared under a state of calamity by the Philippines government last week. It is estimated that Typhoon Frank destroyed 80,000 homes and damaged 241,000 others, displacing 2.4 million people. The initial assessment by the national federation has 185 members impacted representing 730 family members. Eleven homes have been confirmed destroyed and another 38 damaged. The federation is currently assessing the situation in North Luzon where a second typhoon, Cosme, hit.

 The poor face numerous challenges to overcoming poverty, but these co-op members face additional barriers to making a living due to sight, hearing, learning or physical impairments.

Now, the co-operative manufacturing facilities where they work have been destroyed and the storms have damaged homes, destroyed household crops and food stores, and washed away clothing and other possessions.

 CCA is co-ordinating efforts with both natinoal federation and local federations that have established crisis response units. Once basic human needs are addressed, the next step will be to support the reconstruction of housing and the restoration of the manufacturing co-operatives that are the main source of income for these affected families, as well as to support the existing CCA project to strengthen primary co-operatives in both affected and non-affected areas that provide employment to hundreds of disabled men and women. 

 Financial assistance can be made by going to www.cdfcanada.coop/donate to donate on-line through the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada or by mailing a cheque to:

 Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada

275 Bank Street, Suite 400

Ottawa, ON  K2P 2L6

Updates on the situation will be posted to CCA’s website at www.CoopsCanada.coop.

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For more information, contact

Derek Cameron                                                          Lois Graveline

Program Officer, Asia                                                 CDF Manager

(613) 238-6711 ext 254                                                (613) 238-7811 ext 215

Derek.Cameron@CoopsCanada.coop                            Lois.Graveline@CoopsCanada.coop