On September 26, 2009, the tropical storm Ketsana left a trail of destruction across the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Over 100 people died in the Philippines where destruction was the worst. 600,000 people were made homeless and 1.8 million people were left in need.

A month of rain fell in just 12 hours, submerging 80 percent of the capital Manila and affecting 27 provinces in total. Some regions were struck by the worst flooding in half a century. One week after typhoon Ketsana, the northern part of the Philippines was hit by a second typhoon. Fortunately,  its impact was not nearly as devastating as that of Typhoon Ketsana
Caritas provided aid to the most vulnerable in the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. In the Philippines, Caritas and the Catholic Church helped survivors with food and shelter in the immediate aftermath of the typhoon. 

5,000 sets of relief goods (kitchen wares, shelter, aid materials, personal hygiene items and other food stuff) were distributed. Hundreds of volunteers–often Catholic teens and college students–helped pack the items.  Caritas also funded medicines like antibiotics to help with the infections, and basic clothing necessities like underwear.

Caritas then launched an appeal to help 10,000 families (50,000 people) in the seriously affected areas. The operation took place in Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, Pampagna and Cavite. The agency provided food, medicine, shelter materials and other aid items for a month.