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We take a look back at Typhoon Haiyan, six months on

Boats destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
Boats destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Photo: Concern Worldwide US
News24 June 2014Caoimhe Gaskin

It is now six months since Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms on record, hit the Philippines affecting an estimated 14 million people.

To date, Concern Worldwide has reached 55,915 people through our aid programmes.

Children at the elementary school in Polopina play soccer
Children at the elementary school in Polopina play soccer. Photo: Steve De Neef / Concern Worldwide.

The destruction caused by Haiyan in the coastal areas and islands of Concepcion had disastrous effects on infrastructure, agriculture and fishing sectors.

It plunged whole communities into chaos and impacted heavily on people’s livelihoods.

During the emergency phase, we distributed emergency survival kits to 55,020 people. These kits contained items such as mosquito nets, tarpaulins, tools and solar lamps.

More than 75% of the communities with whom we work depend on fishing for their livelihoods. Devastatingly, many families lost their boats to the typhoon.

We have been helping to repair and build vessels in Concern’s first ever boat yard in Concepcion.

Rehabilitation of coral reefs and mangrove restoration is being carried out to restore vital fish habitats and breeding grounds. Coconut tree crops were also badly damaged.

We will support 250 coconut farmers control infestations and we’ve reached 8,885 people through our fisheries programme. 

Water

Typhoon Haiyan damaged water systems and increased the risk of disease due to contaminated drinking water.

Our water systems project is focussed on repairing wells and improving rain water harvesting facilities in villages where water is undrinkable.

Our future plans include:

  • The reconstruction of a causeway between two inhabited islands
  • Provision of cash grants for shelter for 59,025 people

Disaster risk reduction

Disaster prevention training is being provided for communities to increase disaster awareness, improve preparedness and strengthen the coping mechanisms of villages and communities.

This will allow communities to carry out their own community assessments to create and implement their own early warning system and evacuation plans.

Schools are being rebuilt to provide education and function as safe evacuation centres during future typhoons.

They will be able to withstand winds of up to 300km per hour and will be earthquake resistant. Our school rebuilding project will benefit 1,293 students in total.

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