Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines - Shelter and Assistance to Improve Livelihoods - CECI 2014

March 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 Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) is helping up to 12 500 people affected by Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte and Western Samar provinces by providing emergency shelter assistance and in helping people to earn a living. Project activities include: (1) providing materials to 550 families to repair damaged houses; (2) providing 68 carpenters and 136 labourers with cash-for-work programs to repair damaged houses; (3) providing technical assistance to affected people in 11 communities to ensure safe and resilient shelter construction; (4) providing cash grants to 300 women to resume small-scale livelihoods activities; (5) providing farm inputs such as seeds and fertilizer to 200 farmers; (6) providing boats and nets to 200 fishermen; (7) providing 80 cycle rickshaw (Pedicab) drivers with cash grants to repair and replace damaged Pedicabs; (8) developing community contingency plans to prepare for future disasters in consultation with local government units and community members; and (9) providing a total of 11 solar panels to provide light in strategic evacuation or community centres.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to shelter for typhoon-affected people; and (2) increased access to livelihoods to allow people to meet their basic needs. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.