I am leaving shortly for the Philippine Red Cross led press conference where the Secretary General, Gwen Pang, will give an overview of the work done by the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement since the devastating Super Typhoon struck one year ago.
On
8 November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan battered the Philippines and was
marked as the strongest typhoon to ever make landfall in recorded
history. The typhoon tore through the Central Visayas region with 300kph
winds and heavy rain, triggering floods and mudslides and causing
tsunami-like storm surges that destroyed coastal villages and towns.
The Philippine Red Cross responded quickly to the emergency needs of the population largely in
fulfilling food, emergency shelter, healthcare and medical services,
access to safe water, improved sanitation and essential household needs.A typical distribution of CGI sheeting and shelter repair kits in Bantayan 2 weeks after the typhoon. This program was supported by Swiss Red Cross. Photo; Bob McKerrow
One year after Super Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Philippines, tens of thousands of families whose livelihoods were devastated are returning to work with the support of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Building back safer shelters and community
training on construction practices are a central part of the plan, which places
resilience and risk-reduction at its heart.
Courses for masons and carpenters are being held and more than 6,500
fishermen have been provided with cash to buy or repaidamaged boats.
Almost 6,100 houses have been rebuilt and in
the next 15 months, 40,000 families will have received safer homes. More than
23,000 households have also received roofing sheets to repair their homes. A total of 192 classrooms have been repaired
or rebuilt so far and rural health facilities are also being restored.
Impact
Powerful winds, heavy rain, and tsunami-like storm surges caused by Haiyan wiped out entire coastal villages and inland towns, affecting more than 16 million people, forcing some four million away from their homes, and killing 6,300. More than 1.1 million families had their homes damaged or destroyed, while countless others had their crops, livestock, and belongings swept away. Hospitals and health facilities, schools and day care centres, water systems, power lines and telecommunications channels were torn apart. Roads, airports and seaports suffered heavy damage, cutting off entire communities from much-needed relief assistance.Response
The Philippine Red Cross’ response to Typhoon Haiyan was immediate, and with the international call for support from the Philippine government, the entire Red Cross Red Crescent Movement came together to further strengthen the National Society’s efforts. In the first four or so months following the typhoon, focus of the response was largely in fulfilling food, emergency shelter, healthcare and medical services, access to safe water, improved sanitation and essential household needs. With time, emphasis moved from emergency towards recovery efforts in support of those affected by the disaster
One year after Super Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Philippines, tens of thousands of families whose livelihoods were devastated are returning to work with the support of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Almost 30,000 households have so far received
cash grants of up to USD 220 as part of the Philippine Red Cross’s three-year USD
360 million recovery plan which will support 500,000 people across Leyte,
Samar, Cebu, Panay and Palawan islands.
Pigs, goats, chickens and stock for
convenience or ‘sari-sari’ stores are among the most popular items being bought
by Haiyan survivors as part of the livelihoods programme.[i]
Initial data shows farming, rearing livestock
and setting up local convenience shops are the top three income-generators for
those who have received Red Cross support.[ii]
“Kick-starting livelihoods is key to the long
term recovery of disaster-hit communities and we have made this a priority in
our work, as well as housing,” said Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard
Gordon. “One year after Haiyan robbed so many families of their income, we are
seeing people return to work and others setting up new businesses.”
Peanut butter production, candle making, and
turning truck tyres into kitchen kit are also among the micro-enterprises that
have been set up by entrepreneurs using the grants.
Six million workers saw their livelihoods
either wiped out or damaged by the disaster – of which 2.6 million were living
on or below the poverty line before the typhoon[iii].
Vocational training such as sustainable
farming techniques, hog rearing, book keeping, arithmetic and advice on how to diversify
and grow businesses is also part of the Red Cross support package.
Father-of-three and rice farmer Jessie Lape Jnr,
from Luca in Ajuy, Panay, said: “The typhoon wiped out our crops and we had
nothing to harvest – it was a desperate time. But the livelihood support has
changed everything - I had the money to buy seeds, repair tools and now I have
crop insurance. I can sleep easier knowing we are in a better position when the
next typhoon hits.”
Since Haiyan devastated the region, PRC
together with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
and the International Committee of the Red Cross have been on the ground supporting
hundreds of communities. Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies from
around the world are also working across the country as part of the typhoon
recovery effort.
More than 1.3 million people were provided
with emergency relief in the aftermath and one year on, the Red Cross’s long
term recovery plan is targeting some of the most vulnerable typhoon survivors.
A Philippine Red Cross progressive core shelter and latrine in Palawan is an example of building back safer and lifting the standard of hygiene. These shelters in northern Palawan are funded and supported by Swiss Red Cross. Photo: Bob McKerrow
PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said:
“Recovery is well under way but there are still humanitarian needs on the
ground and we are working across 400 communities (barangays) to ensure people
get the support they need to rebuild their lives.”
Thanks to IFRC for access to this information.
For b-roll, photo galleries, case studies and
more details on Philippine Red Cross recovery programme, go to http://philippineredcross.github.io/haiyan-one-year/
I can recommend this link:
Spokespeople are also available for interview.
For further information:
In Philippines:
·
Robert Gonzaga, communications manager, PRC
Tel: +63 909 687 8872
Email: rigonzaga@gmail.com
·
Kate Marshall, communications delegate, IFRC
Tel: +63 998 960 6287 or +63 928 904 7115
Email:
kate.marshall@ifrc.org; Twitter: @kateamarshall
·
Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, communication coordinator,
ICRC
Tel: +63 918 907 2125
Email: wsaugeron@icrc.org
In Geneva:
·
Benoit Matsha-Carpentier, Senior
Communications Officer, IFRC
Mobile: +41 79 213 24 13 Email: benoit.carpentier@ifrc.org
·
Ewan Watson, public relations officer, ICRC
Tel: +41 22 730
33 45 or +41 79 244 64 70
Email: ewatson@icrc.org, Twitter: @EWatsonICRC
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