TYPHOON HAIYAN: DISASTER APPEAL REPORT - The Philippines Report for initiative PH-013983

TYPHOON HAIYAN:
DISASTER APPEAL
REPORT
The Philippines

Report for initiative PH-013983

                                  PH-013983

OVERVIEW
LOCATION                 The Philippines
PROJECT                  115 projects affected by Typhoon Haiyan
INITIATIVE               Typhoon Haiyan: Emergency Relief Assistance
BENEFICIARIES            Over 24,000 Compassion-assisted children, their families and project staff
FUNDING                  £1,560,728 (£345,000 received to date)
START DATE               November 2013

TYPHOON HAIYAN: IMPACT
The recent Typhoon Haiyan is the most
powerful cyclone to hit the Philippines.
In fact, it is considered to be the
strongest recorded tropical cyclone to
make landfall in world history and has
devastated coastal towns across
central Philippines. With gusts of wind
reaching 315 km/h (195 mph) and
waves up to 15 metres (45 feet), it
washed away homes and buildings,
cut electricity and water supplies and
scattered debris over major roads. This
made immediate relief assistance to
critically affected areas unfeasible,
despite the aggressive efforts from
government and humanitarian
agencies. Many survivors had to bury
their dead in mass graves, and
struggled with the
                                                                      Ormoc Airport
lack of clean water, electricity and food.

The UN has estimated that 11 million people have been affected by this disaster and the Philippine
government declared the country to be in a state of calamity. The Philippines National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council said on 8 November that the official death toll had risen to 5,924
with 1,779 people still missing. It estimated that the cost of the damage to infrastructure and agriculture
was over £500 million. The BBC's global health correspondent, Tulip Mazumdar reported that there are
concerns about the spread of diseases, as families left homeless continue to live in cramped, unsanitary
conditions. Health experts have warned that the worst-affected areas are entering a peak danger period
for the spread of infectious diseases.

COMPASSION’S RESPONSE
Compassion started in The Philippines in 1972 and has subsequently established 309 projects with a
current total of 69,000 children sponsored. Compassion Philippines has three major programmes: the
Child Sponsorship Programme, the Child Survival Programme and the Leadership Development
Programme.

106 Compassion projects were initially affected by Typhoon Haiyan, but
                                                                                 Of the 66,400 Compassion-
thanks to relief efforts, many were able to resume their activities.
                                                                                   assisted children in the
However, 52 projects were severely affected with their buildings either
                                                                                  Philippines, 11,419 were
partially or totally destroyed and it is unlikely that normal operations
                                                                                          affected.
will be resumed for some time.

In response to the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan on 8 November 2013, Compassion launched
this six month emergency relief assistance initiative to provide for the children and families supported by
these 52 severely affected projects. The inititive has been split into four complementary actions:

1. EMERGENCY RELIEF
The first stage of the relief operation was the provision of food and basic supplies immediately after the
disaster. The number of beneficiaries receiving this assistance reached 14,000 with 52 Compassion
projects requiring funding to re-establish full operation (in the affected areas, all project days have
temporarily been suspended). 3,985 relief packages have been distributed.

When a disaster like this strikes, the first assistance that sponsored children get is from their project.
Compassion projects have their own disaster response protocol that is unique to their area and needs,
and staff are trained in risk assessment and response planning. Most projects have also established
strong links with local government agencies and non-government organisations, putting them in a
strong position to respond when the need arises.

Although project staff themselves suffered, they
still made a way to check on the children.
Because of the lack of communication,
Compassion Philippines country director Noel
Pabiona went to areas and together with project
staff, conducted a rapid appraisal; all children
have been accounted for. On November 13, the
disaster response team for Typhoon Haiyan
began packing relief items to be sent to projects
in Leyte, Samar, Panay, Negros and Cebu with
the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
who transported the goods on military planes;
these efforts have since continued.

2. MEDICAL
The second component is the provision of immediate medical care to beneficiaries in the Haiyan
aftermath. With the lack of safe drinking water, and the additional hygiene and sanitation challenges,
waterborne diseases are a major concern, and will require ongoing support until utilities have been
somewhat restored.

3. COUNSELLING
Those who survived the storm
are being given access to
psychosocial care, including
trauma counselling and
emotional support. Project staff
will also be trained in providing
basic and more long-term
counselling. Many have lost
loved ones, their homes and
their belongings and will need
loving support as they begin to
rebuild their lives.

4. SUPPORT RECOVERY ASSISTANCE
The fourth phase of Compassion’s relief effort to the Philippines will involve the provision of necessary
items such as shoes, school uniforms, and basic household items. Projects will also be given a support
fund from which to re-establish operations by purchasing computers, office furniture and supplies. The
Philippine government hopes to restore power supplies to major cities within a month, however full
restoration to remote towns and municipalities is not expected until the second quarter of 2014. Projects
in these areas will therefore be provided with a small 2,400 watt generator that will allow basic office
functions to take place.

This report outlines Compassion's initial response to the devastation left in the wake of the storm,
however this is only the beginning. The extensive damage to infrastructure and industry means that the
road ahead for rebuilding is long. Many children have lost their homes and families have lost their
sources of income. Consequently, RESPOND Initiatives addressing infrastructure needs in the Philippines
will be launched to rebuild and repair houses and projects of the children we support.

THANK YOU
Thank you so much for responding to Compassion's Philippines disaster relief appeal. You have enabled
us to provide emergency assistance to over 24,000 registered children and their families who have had
their lives drastically affected by Typhoon Haiyan. This initiative is providing ongoing medical and
psychological care, food and supplies and we trust continually in God's faithfulness and goodness. A
further follow-up report will be made available in July 2014.

If you have any questions, or would like to know more about subsequent initiatives, please do not
hesitate to contact Mark Preston on 07830 791899 or at MarkP@compassionuk.org. Thank you.

                  “Dear Friends and Spiritual Family from around the world,

                  Thank you for your messages, prayers and concern for our current
                  situation in the Philippines. As you know, a super typhoon named
                  Haiyan (deadlier than Hurricane Katrina that had swept the US)
                  ravaged the provinces in the central part of our archipelago last
                  Friday. These cities are a plane ride away from Manila, so those of us
                  who live in the capital city are safe. Before the typhoon struck,
                  Christians were praying that the Lord would change the typhoon’s
                  course. As it was however, fierce winds and tsunami-like waves totally
                  whipped these provinces, killing an estimated 10,000 helpless victims.
                  Warnings and preparations for evacuation and relief work were no
                  match for the winds and rain. Many cities now look like no man’s land.

                  But our Lord is sovereign over all; He never fails us and we believe that
                  as a nation, this is an opportunity to show our spirit of unity, deep
                  faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and demonstrate our selfless giving. We
                  have not seen in our history such a generous outpouring of aid and
                  supplies from within the country (through the private sector), and from
                  countries around the world, (some of them erstwhile ‘enemies’ of the
                  Philippines). Everywhere, we see people wanting to help out and give
                  their support. Please pray with us through the weeks and months
                  ahead of relief, rescue and rehabilitation work, on behalf of the
                  millions of Filipinos who are helpless victims of this tragedy.”

                   Menchit Wong – Child Advocacy Director for Compassion International