The Church of the Nazarene continues helping families affected by an armed conflict that recently ended in Marawi City, Philippines. The five-month crisis displaced hundreds of thousands of people in addition to destroying many buildings and homes and killing dozens of civilians. 

The West Mindanao District, led by Superintendent Dan Balayo and Philippine Micronesia Field Strategy Coordinator Stephen Gualberto, partnered with different organizations to conduct child-friendly spaces in four evacuation centers, hold medical and dental check-ups, and distribute medicine and Crisis Care Kits to hundreds of displaced families.

The work did not stop there. During this summer's Church of the Nazarene General Assembly and Conventions, Balayo and Gualberto met with representatives from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Canada to arrange shipment of medical equipment for government hospitals serving internally displaced residents. 

NCM Canada responded by sending a 45-foot container of medical equipment and supplies that were delivered to two government hospitals 22 September. The first hospital is Gregorio Lluch Memorial Hospital in Iligan City, the closest city from Marawi, where thousands of people sought help and refuge. The hospital received 30 beds, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and various medical supplies, as well as hospital linens, first aid kits, scrub suits, orthopedic shoes, and portable oxygen tanks. Representatives from the city government and the hospital administrator were present to receive the equipment and express their gratitude to the Church of the Nazarene.

The second recipient of the medical equipment was the Catarman District Hospital in Mindanao. Ten hospital beds and other medical equipment were given to help augment the needs of this government hospital. They serve a large number of people in the province and rural areas with limited resources and the church saw the need to help them in this area. The provincial governor was delighted and grateful for the church’s generosity and the compassion of the Church of the Nazarene for the welfare of their people.

--Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific