Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines - Emergency Assistance for Women and Children -World Vision Canada

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. This number is expected to rise. 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 World Vision Canada is providing emergency assistance including essential household and hygiene items and psychosocial support to 50 000 children and women in the regions of Leyte (including Tacloban city) Samar Capiz (including Roxas City) Iloilo Aklan and Northern Cebu. Some project activities include: (i) distributing temporary shelter supplies such as tarpaulins and ropes to 5 000 households; (ii) distributing essential household items such as blankets mosquito nets and plastic mats to 10 000 families; (iii) distributing essential hygiene items including bath and laundry soap toothbrushes and toothpaste sanitary pads and underwear to 10 000 people; and (iv) providing psychosocial support to 17 500 vulnerable children and their mothers through Child Friendly Spaces and Women and Infant Friendly Spaces where children can learn and play in a safe environment.

The expected immediate outcomes of this project include: (i) improved ability of the most vulnerable to meet immediate safe and adequate shelter and household needs; (ii) improved physical security and health; and (iii) increased access to protective environments for children and women. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of typhoon-affected people especially women and children.