Resilience, Recovery and Reputations one year on.in Typhoon Haiyan

                                      Taken just after typhoon Haiyan struck Tacloban

                                        One year later taken from the same spot.

 If the emergency relief operation is daunting in so many ways, so too of course will be the longer term recovery and reconstruction” wrote Mike Woolridge from the BBC on 13 November 2013.

Today, 8 November 2014, one year since Typhoon Haiyan struck. The before and after photos above show the resilience of the people and the land.  

I was involved in my first major typhoon in 1972 in Fiji when Hurricane Bebe ripped the heart out of Western Fiji and its outer islands. In 1999 I played a key support role after the Super Typhoon or Cyclone hit the coastal Indian state of Orrisa. As my Red Cross career nears an end, I never expected to be involved in the most power typhoon ever recorded, but here I am having worked for a year with the Philippine Red Cross through the emergency to the long term recovery phase. How has the Red Cross performed?

 Now working as part of a Philippine Red Cross recovery effort  I am country coordinator for the Swiss Red Cross, and feel proud of the collective RCRC achievement after one year. The RC has completed over 6000 core shelters with latrines and should steadily reach our target of 90,000 shelters. In addition we have distributed cash and roofing material to 13,500 households for home repairs and distributed cash to more than 29,000 households as part of the livelihood support programme. The core shelter above is one funded by the Swiss Red Cross in Palawan.


A year on from Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines’ deadliest natural disaster, the Red Cross and Red Crescent is making a real difference in the lives of people devastated by the typhoon.

As soon as the extent of the devastation became clear, the Philippine Red Cross mobilised more than 8,000 volunteers, as well as rescue trucks and equipment, and distributed prepositioned food and water supplies.  Meanwhile, in one of the Red Cross’ biggest global relief efforts, National Societies all over the world sent delegates experienced in emergency response, including logistics, health, water and sanitation and psychosocial support, while dozens more launched fundraising appeals.

Since distributing emergency relief, including shelter and cash, to 1.3 million people in the first months following the terrifying storm,  the Philippine Red Cross is now implementing a three-year recovery plan, erecting and repairing homes and giving people back their livelihoods.

Cash grants were provided to fisher folks which they used to buy fishing boats and gears to help them rebuild their livelihoods.

The IFRC’s Head of Delegation in the Philippines, Marcel Fortier, says: ‘Red Cross has a lot of experience in complex operations following natural disasters. The impact of Haiyan was huge, but it has not affected the normal pace of relief and recovery activities, because we are used to working in such contexts  – that is one of our key strengths.’

 A year later, thanks to the USD 386 million raised by the Red Cross and Red Crescent (as of 31 August 2014), the Red Cross has built well over 6,000 homes, distributed cash and roofing material to 13,500 households for home repairs and distributed cash to more than 29,000 households as part of the livelihood support programme.

Haiyan had a huge impact on the Visayan economy, wiping out agriculture, fisheries and the livestock people rely on for food and backyard trade.  Nearly 70 per cent of livelihood cash grants so far have been used to buy livestock, mostly pigs and chickens.

Recovery implementation hasn’t stopped there. An important part of the Haiyan operation is ensuring that householders and labourers know how to build back safer so they are better prepared for the next typhoon. As a result Red Cross has employed more than 1,800 carpenters and masons and set up training workshops for community volunteers to ensure that  simple ‘building back safer’ techniques are being taught and disseminated in the hundreds of communities where Red Cross is working.

 

Carpenters receiving on the job training while building Philippine Red Cross houses in Ormoc to   ensure    that the new houses are typhoon resistant.

Haiyan also extensively damaged and contaminated water systems, pipes and hand pumps. Red Cross water and sanitation teams have since repaired or constructed nearly 1,500 water systems and is continuing long-term community awareness raising  of good hygiene practices and disease prevention, with an emphasis on cleaning up breeding sites for mosquitoes. 

Every shelter built by Red Cross has a latrine and a water supply. See photo below.

Health and education are also important components of the recovery plan. So far 192 classrooms out of the planned 400 have been repaired and equipped, while 35 health facilities are being rebuilt and refitted.

Closer community consultation and engagement have also been a feature of the Haiyan operation.

To support monitoring and beneficiary selection, Philippine Red Cross has to date established Barangay (community) Recovery Committees in nearly 240 communities.  Members are generally chosen by their peers and must abide by Red Cross guidelines on selecting beneficiaries for shelter and livelihood support. Such committees are playing an important part in their community’s preparedness and response for disasters in a country that experiences scores of annual floods, landslides and typhoons.

One factor hampering the pace of recovery is the legacy of entrenched poverty. This was further exacerbated by Haiyan, which had a significant impact on the economies of Leyte and Samar in region VIII, the third poorest region in the Philippines with one of the highest proportion of landless labourers and tenant farmers.

As the one year mark of Haiyan approaches, more work is needed  to sustain the recovery effort. 

‘Haiyan's devastating impact was huge but one year on, the recovery effort is well underway and we are seeing communities bounce back,’ Fortier says.

‘Without doubt there are still needs on the ground and that's why the Red Cross is committed to a long-term plan which will see not only houses and livelihoods restored but communities made stronger so they are more able to withstand the next super typhoon when it hits.’

Thanks to Kate Marshall of IFRC for permission to use excerpt from her article.

Six months since Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines

As the Philippine Red Cross, supported by its movement partners,  begins to steadily roll out is massive recovery operation the Chairman Richard Gordon reminded us this week of  the upcoming  6 months anniversary since Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) made land fall and World Red Cross Day, which both fall on 8^th May.

The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement event is planned for the 5^th May in Manila and a joint event humanitarian partners event hosted by the UN, in Tacloban, is scheduled for 7^th May.

Chapters will also host events according to local preferences, based on the package of material provided from headquarters and customised to represent local activities and partners present in that location.

One of many thousands of houses that have been built by families who have received CGI sheeting, shelter kits and cash from the Philippine Red Cross. This was a house we visited last week in Malawig, Busuanga, Palawan. Photo: Bob McKerrow Swiss Red Cross

Chairman Gordon encouraged his Red Cross partners to ”mesh science with results, giving the example of fish depopulation in Leyte meaning some livelihood options for coastal people are not immediately viable.”

Chairman Gordon (pictured below) also commented positively in regard to Movement Coordination to date, stating that it had been perfect, with theatres of operation for the different Movement components being established right away.

His key messages were self help, self reliance and cooperating with each other as essential attributes of the operation and noted that for the Haiyan operation lessons have been learned from Haiti, leading to a smoother and faster operation in the Philippines.    It was also noted that the Haiyan Operation was faster than the Pablo or Bopha responses in the Philippines. 

Latest update on Red Cross work in Typhoon Haiyan (Yolande), Philippines.

 

I've been working for the Swiss Red Cross for over two months in the Philippines on the Typhoon Hariyan (Yolande) relief operation which is now moving into the recovery stage. I am back home for a short break and will be back in Manila next Monday, 3 February as we launch into the long-term recovery phase.  The latest update on Red Cross work has just been compiled.

The Philippine Red Cross distributing shelter kits and corrugated sheeting ,supplied by the Swiss Red Cross on Bantayan Island in northern Cebu. To date Swiss Red Cross have supplied 5000 shelter kits, 56000 sheets of iron, and 2000 cash grants plus family tents and health clinic tents.

 Situational Snapshot
• According to the latest NDRRMC update, Situational Report No. 92, the
number of registered deaths is 6,201 with 1,785 persons still missing. A total
of 890,895 families were displaced. The number of damaged houses is
1,140,332 (550,928 totally, 589,404 partially).
• Between 17 and 20 January, the tropical depression Agaton crossed the
southern Philippines causing loss of life and damages. Although the storm did
not follow the same path as Haiyan, heavy rains and strong winds associated
with the depression affected the Visayas, causing further damages as well as
complications and delays for Red Cross Red Crescent Movement operations.
Philippines Red Cross - Highlights
• The Revised Appeal published 16 January is seeking a total amount of CHF
126,156,616 to support PRC in assisting up to 100,000 families (500,000
people) for 24 months. The main sectors to be covered by the Appeal are
shelter, livelihoods, health, and water and sanitation. The Appeal will be
updated in March following the publication of recovery assessment findings
and the upcoming mid-February Movement Summit led by PRC.
• The four Recovery Assessment teams deployed to Panay, Palawan, Leyte,
and Cebu completed their activities after three weeks in the field. A two-day
workshop was held on 23 and 24 January in Manila for the teams to share
their findings and finalize field reports. The recovery assessment was led by
PRC with the support of IFRC and Partner National Societies. An integrated
PRC Recovery Assessment Report will be prepared and the findings will be
used to update the PRC Plan of Action in the weeks to come.
• A Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Summit will be held on 12 and 13
February in Manila. The Summit aims to establish the basis of our joint
operation for the years to come through a clear commitment of Movement
Partners with a shared Movement Wide Operational Framework built upon i)
the PRC vision and strategy, ii) shared operational objectives for Typhoon
Haiyan/ Yolanda relief and recovery operation, iii) an agreed framework for
Movement cooperation and relations with external actors, and iv) quality
programming and accountability in our support to disaster affected
communities. Prior to the Summit, an Asia Pacific Regional Meeting for the
Philippines will be held in Manila on 11 February to reflect on regional
cooperation and coordination in disaster preparedness.
 

The key word for this reporting period is transition. As operations shift from relief to recovery phase, FACT members and the various ERUs still operating are expected to conclude their activities by the end of February. They are currently planning or already implementing handover and exit strategies.
Relief
As of 26 January, distributions of non-food items had reached more than 77,000 families of the 100,000 target. The pace of distribution is scaling up with three sub-logistics hubs fully active in Leyte, Cebu, and Panay even though transportation is still a challenge due to frequent bad sea conditions.
A consolidated non-food items distribution plan has been finalized together with PRC, with an end target date of 28 February. Thus, an additional ERU team rotation is planned for the Relief ERUs (American Red Cross based in Tacloban, Benelux on Panay Island, and French Red Cross based in Ormoc) and Logistics ERUs (Finnish Red Cross/ Danish Red Cross and British Red Cross) to support PRC until the end of February.
Progress towards PRC/ IFRC relief ERU distribution household targetsby PRC chapter as of 26 January 2014
Post-distribution monitoring (PDM) is being carried out by relief teams in order to update information on thegeneral situation of the population, focusing on the quantity and quality of relief assistance provided to beneficiaries. A common PDM questionnaire was designed and shared with relief teams, and Open Data
Kit (ODK) will be used to manage mobile data collection and facilitate analysis.
PRC volunteers are trained to conduct sensitization activities in parallel to distributions of shelter items on how to “build back build safer and do it yourself.” Shelter Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) delegates trained 30 volunteers from Panay PRC Chapters and supervised 28 emergency shelter sensitization sessions. Trainings were also held in Tacloban.
IFRC and PRC teams are working on exit strategies that explore opportunities to target new households for distributions. PRC chapter capacity building will also be considered through soft approach such as training,  support for office rehabilitation, or support for building local storage capacity.

* Additional households are being identified in order to reach the plan of 50,000.
Water and Sanitation (WatSan)
Three WatSan ERU teams were deployed in the field in response to typhoon Haiyan. The Swedish Red Cross/ Austrian Red Cross mass sanitation module (MSM) ERU in Tacloban concluded its activities on 16January. The two others, the Spanish ERU M15 in Tolosa and the German Red Cross/ Austrian Red Cross ERU MSM20 in Dulag, are expected to complete their activities before the end of February and have now entered a dismantling, handover and exit process.
The Swedish Red Cross/ Austrian Red Cross Mass Sanitation ERU in Tacloban:
• Ended its operations on 16 January with departure of the second team rotation.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Operational Highlights / Typhoon Haiyan Appeal - 27 January 2014
• Produced 124,000 litres of water and constructed 46 latrines. The Swedish Red Cross conducted
six hygiene promotion trainings for a total of 97 PRC volunteers. In turn, the volunteers organized
571 hygiene promotion activities reaching 4,947 people within targeted communities.
• Conducted vector control training for 10 PRC volunteers.
• Ensured sustainability of the laboratory established by the ERU and handed over to PRC with the
arrival of a microbiologist delegate on 14 January for one month. PRC staff and volunteers are
trained to manage the laboratory and perform routine water-quality testing.
The German Red Cross/ Austrian Red Cross ERU M20 in Dulag:
• As of 21 January, in collaboration with PRC, had constructed 121 latrines reaching 4,359 people.
• Performed 79 sanitation interventions, mainly latrine repairs in schools, reaching 9,315 people.
• Trained 97 volunteers in hygiene promotion. The volunteers organized 278 hygiene promotion
campaigns reaching 47,455 people.
• Conducted a vector control training for 20 PRC volunteers.
• Will conclude operations in the field by the end of February. A last ERU team of 4 has been on site
since 22 January, preparing the handover.
The Spanish Red Cross ERU M15 in Tolosa:
• Is expected to close production and distribution activities in February with the departure of the
fourth ERU team rotation. This final team arrived in Tolosa on 22 January and will continue to work
on a daily basis with a trained team of 7 PRC volunteers. The ERU team operates a water
production and distribution centre while also supporting the PRC in implementing hygiene and
promotion activities.
• As of 20 January, produced 4,870,355 litres of water and delivered 4,557,864 litres in Tolosa
and surrounding areas.
• Conducted training in hygiene promotion for 56volunteers. The volunteers have held 12 hygiene
promotion activities reaching 594 people.
• Continues to supply the German Red Cross/Austrian Red Cross ERU M20 and other
Movement activities with purified water.
• Is implementing an exit strategy, shifting focus away from water production and distribution and
intensifying activities in barangays around rehabilitation of key facilities such as communal hand
pumps, household water treatment, and water quality monitoring.
• In accordance with the exit strategy, 31 of the 37 distribution points have been dismantled with 6
remaining to be dismantled progressively.

Health
The Canadian Red Cross/ Norwegian Red Cross Basic Health Unit (BHU) ERU was deployed to
Ormoc, set up a field hospital, and began seeing patients on 21 November. One month later, all patients could be transferred from the tents into the district hospital and the field hospital was taken down. Clinical teaching and bedside care continued in the hospital on maternal child health. The ERU concluded clinical activities in the hospital by the end of December. However, psychosocial and community health module activities continue. Three delegates remain on site for dismantling, handover and exit strategy.
The PRC has indicated that the ERU handover and exit strategy is consistent with its current plan to fortify capacity in disaster management. The Canadian Red Cross/ Norwegian Red Cross BHU is currently being stored in the IFRC warehouse in Cebu where it will be reconfigured and replenished with consumables and medications. The ERU team will hold training for PRC volunteers in late February on the set-up and operation of the BHU and provide delegate support in the event of deployment. Current activities involve replenishment, training, and liaising with PRC and IFRC.
Cumulatively the BHU ERU:
• Admitted 1,226 patients (female: 22%, male: 78%; 33% under five years of age), performed a total
of 114 surgeries, and supported 418 deliveries. Deliveries represented 30% of patients seen by the
ERU, followed by diarrhoea cases (13%), acute respiratory illnesses (12%), and surgeries (9%).
• Provided pychosocial support to 3,800 children and adults.
• Trained 50 PRC volunteers in psychosocial support.
• Trained 23 PRC volunteers in violence prevention.
• Held workshops on play, art therapy, and stress management attended by 157 teachers.
• Conducted various trainings for PRC volunteers, health staff at Ormoc District hospital, and
community health promoters in Ormoc and Tacloban.
The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) Basic Health Clinic (BHC) ERU started its clinical activities in the rural health unit (RHU) of Maya, Cebu and also began operating a mobile clinic in Daanbantayan, Cebu on 20 November. The ERU has also been active supporting preventive health measures through
community based health (CBH) and psychosocial activities.
The daily number of patients seen has shown a steady decline, and since the end of December appears to be consistent with pre-typhoon levels. Repairs at the RHU have allowed all services, other than delivery services, to resume. The secondary health care service and referral system is functioning. A third team of 10 delegates comprising three doctors, three nurses, two technicians and two administrators arrived on site 8 January. They continue activities while implementing the handover and exit plan. After the gradual closure of the fixed clinic the ERU will also phase out the mobile clinic and the community health module.

Between 15 and 21 January, the JRCS BHC ERU carried out 13 community health training activities for 84 barangay health workers as well as a midwives training for 17 midwives.

Logistics
• The structure of Logistics continues to be an operations hub in Cebu, two bases in Leyte (Palo and
Ormoc), and a hub on Panay Island. The ERUs are still present but preparing to transition duties. The
fourth ERU rotations will handover to long-term teams.
• Non-food item distributions are on track for completion by the end of February with the arrival in the Philippines of bed sheets and mats. All goods received notes (GRNs) for in kind donation (IKD) have now been reconciled and sent to donors. Donors are invited to contact Logistics if they have not yet received a GRN for donated items.
• In Cebu, the latest dispatches have been delayed due to bad weather conditions. Globally, the logistics operation is now running smoothly with only the usual few unavoidable glitches.
• The mobilization table was last updated on 19 December and indicated that all needs were covered in terms of required IKDs. The Revised Appeal did not identify new needs so there is no plan to revise the mobilization table at this time. However, the shelter plan when finalized may include corrugated iron sheets-CGI procured through ZLU and roofing kits that cannot be sourced locally. The support for those items would have to come through cash pledges towards relief.
• The long-term human resources plan has been globally well accepted and supported. All positions have been posted and closed. Final decisions are in process.
Information Technology/ Telecom (ITT)
During this reporting period the ITT ERU team has:
• Assisted incoming delegates with their IT setups.
• Supported the personnel at Cebu warehouse, Palo Base camp, and Tacloban PRC chapter.

• Been preparing a preliminary planning for the ITT needs for the new Tacloban PRC chapter
building.
• Prepared nine donated Dell laptops and five donated Iridium 9555 sat-phones for use by PRC
chapters.
The current ITT ERU comprises five members. A further team rotation is planned until a long-term delegate is appointed. The ERU team has been coordinating and looking for opportunities to cooperate with other agencies, and attending the emergency telecommunications cluster meetings. Radio site installations
planned for the third rotation have been postponed due to the late arrival of equipment.
Shelter Cluster - Highlights
• To date, 450,354 households have received basic emergency shelter materials. Support for shelter
self-recovery (SSR) for 46,747 households has been distributed or is currently on going. The SSR
number is lower than previously reported, because a large cluster partner submitted different data.
• The REACH assessment commissioned by the Shelter Cluster shows that most shelter assistance has been provided along the coasts and in urban areas even though many homes in rural and inland areas have also been destroyed. Given the shortage of funds, the Shelter Cluster is working together with
partners on a framework to improve targeting according to vulnerabilities.
• Together with the Early Recovery Cluster, the Shelter Cluster is looking at ways to utilize coco lumber from fallen trees for construction while mitigating the risk of market volatility.
• A survey conducted by the Shelter Cluster showed that 75 per cent of Shelter Cluster partners are
planning to provide affected households with information or training on how to build back safer.
• The Shelter Cluster team is supporting municipal and provincial authorities. In Capiz, the team is
supporting the government in developing the Provincial Recovery Strategy. In Cebu, the team is
developing a skills training program for municipal information managers.
• In Tacloban, the local government is preparing a relocation site 16 kilometres north of the city. Site
plans are for between 7,000 and 10,000 families.
• Shelter projects in the Strategic Response Plan are only 24 per cent funded (43 million of 178 million USD). This is at odds with the massive shelter needs. While funding also exists outside the SRP, significant funding gaps remain. This lack of funding means that many disaster survivors may not have adequate shelter in time for the next typhoon season.
• An Information Manager from MapAction and a GIS expert from British Red Cross have temporarily joined the Shelter Cluster team to assist with coordination of the shelter sector.