Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines - Livelihoods in Agriculture and Livestock - FAO 2014

February 2014 - On November 8 2013 Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) made landfall in the Philippines a densely populated country of 92 million people. The category five typhoon killed over 6 000 Filipinos caused 4 million people to be displaced from their homes and caused severe damage to infrastructure including homes roads schools and health centres. Although many people have already received life-saving humanitarian assistance significant humanitarian needs remain including early recovery activities that contribute to building communities that are more resilient. With DFATD’s support the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is helping up to 128 600 households affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines by supporting farmers to earn a decent living and meet their basic needs. Project activities include: (1) providing cash material and technical support and training to farmers; (2) repairing small-scale infrastructure for farmers; (3) providing cash transfer programs to farmers to help them diversify their agriculture production; (4) providing cash-for-work programs to clear land for small-scale coconut farmers; (5) providing cash-for-work programs tools (such as saws portable mills and other basic equipment) and training programs to help salvage and process fruit and timber trees for fuel and charcoal-making; (6) providing assistance to establish community-based tree nurseries; (7) providing backyard livestock or poultry to small-scale farmers; (8) providing training to women’s groups to help them increase their incomes and protein sources; and (9) providing cash and materials to build common shelters for large animals as well as feed and veterinary supplies.

The expected immediate outcome for this project is: increased access to improved livelihoods in agriculture and livestock production to allow people to meet their basic needs. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.