Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines - Emergency Assistance - Plan Canada 2013

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 support Plan Canada is providing emergency shelter safe drinking water essential household items and health and hygiene sensitization to 57 500 typhoon-affected people in Leyte province. Some project activities include: (i) distributing 6 500 emergency family shelter kits that will benefit 32 500 individuals including plastic sheeting ground mats bamboo poles ropes and nails; (ii) distributing 11 500 essential household items kits including soap plastic pails and dippers sarong cloths toothbrushes and toothpaste sanitary napkins and nail clippers; (iii) distributing 11 500 safe drinking and water kits composed of capped jerry cans and Hyposol to purify water; and (iv) conducting health and hygiene sensitization alongside distribution activities to promote healthy hygiene practices appropriate water treatment/storage and to mitigation against disease outbreaks.

The expected immediate outcome for this project include: (i) increased access to emergency shelter; (ii) increased access to essential household items; (iii) increased access to safe drinking water; and (iv) increased awareness of health and hygiene issues to help prevent disease. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of typhoon-affected people especially women and children.