November 19, 2013 – On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) made landfall in the Philippines, killing a reported 3,976 people and affecting 12.9 million people in 41 provinces. Some four million people have been reported as displaced from their homes and are seeking shelter in evacuation centres or with host families. The typhoon caused extensive damage to infrastructure in the hardest-hit areas, making it very challenging to access affected people with emergency assistance. The latest reports indicate that the typhoon destroyed more than one million homes and that electricity and water systems are not functioning in many affected areas. The Government of the Philippines has identified the most significant needs as safe drinking water, shelter, food, medical assistance, and support to ensure adequate hygiene and sanitation. With DFATD’s support, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is addressing emergency shelter, early recovery and water, sanitation and hygiene needs of 500,000 typhoon-affected people. Some project activities include: (i) distributing relief items such as food packs, blankets, jerry cans to safely store water, sleeping mats, hygiene kits, and mosquito nets; (ii) distributing emergency shelter items, such as tents and tarps; (iii) providing immediate health and psychosocial support to meet the needs of affected families; (iv) rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities; (v) facilitating interventions to ensure proper sanitation, such as cleaning up debris, ensuring proper drainage of wastewater, and setting up emergency latrines and cooking areas; (vi) establishing adequate temporary shelters and settlements until durable solutions are put in place; (vii) providing opportunities for affected families to earn a living; and (viii) strengthening national civil society capacity to deliver sustainable services.
