This funding from the Canadian government will provide much-needed long-term shelter, livelihood assistance and psycho-social support to 21,860 people in the Dulag municipality on Leyte island; the Estancia municipality of Panay island; and the Guiuan municipality of Samar island. This funding will form a significant portion of World Renew’s longer-term recovery and rehabilitation work in the Philippines. The “Support for Vulnerable Families in the Philippines” project supported by DFATD has a budget of USD $3.9 million (CAD $4.3 million), and World Renew’s total response budget now stands at USD $6.8 million.

World Renew’s Director of Disaster Response and Rehabilitation, Wayne de Jong, says, “We are grateful to the Canadian government for this substantial funding which will enable World Renew to continue working with local communities and move into the next phases of recovery and rehabilitation in three crucial areas – livelihoods, shelter, and psycho-social support. We will work closely with local churches and leaders from the community who will be significantly involved as community organizers to help carry out this one-year initiative.”

"World Renew will provide emergency supplies to affected communities and “Cash-for-Work” opportunities which will enables people to earn much-needed income in exchange for work on projects that help their community"

In the first two phases of its response since Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in November, World Renew provided emergency supplies to affected communities (food, water, community generators, temporary shelter, bedding, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, etc.). World Renew also provided “cash-for-work” opportunities as a means of emergency employment to affected households. Cash-for-work enables people to earn much-needed income in the short-term in exchange for work on projects that help their community rebuild.

Thanks to this recent allotment from DFATD, as well as the generosity of many Christians across North America, World Renew will be able to program an extensive third phase of response to Typhoon Haiyan and effectively move into recovery and rehabilitation.

One of the pillars of this new, DFATD-funded program is livelihood recovery, which is necessary to help affected people get back on their feet economically and return to a sense of normalcy. World Renew will help recover the livelihoods of 508 fishing households in coastal areas.

Shortly after the Typhoon, Panay Island’s Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. said, “Fishermen prefer boats over houses. Even just a small boat means a lot to a fisherman who was displaced by Super-typhoon Yolanda.” World Renew is responding to this need by providing locally-appropriate fishing boats to 508 fishing households, as well as additional the fishing gear needed, such as outriggers, anchors, propellers, fishing nets, and weights.

To enhance the physical security and protection of those who were affected by the typhoon, 1,915 houses will be reconstructed or retrofitted, depending on the level of damage. Partially-damaged houses will be inspected to determine whether they are safe to retrofit or not. To ensure the structural integrity of newly-constructed houses, World Renew is hiring local architects to design cyclone-resistant structures. The final design will be developed in consultation with the local communities in each of the project areas.

Because typhoon Haiyan caused extensive devastation in the Philippines, many people are traumatized. They have lost loved ones and/or family members, and some were severely injured by flying debris.

World Renew will be working with two local organizations that have expertise in psycho-social care to provide community-based trauma counseling. This includes child-focused counseling programs and stress debriefing seminars as well as a training to equip community leaders to provide care on an ongoing basis.

World Renew is thankful to be able to address the needs of disaster survivors in the Philippines. Please continue to lift up the people of the Philippines and World Renew’s on-going Typhoon Haiyan response in your prayers.

 

Image via. Tom Price/Integral PHL