As Haiyan hits 3-month mark, World Vision to help survivors rebuild, recover for long term

Cebu - With more than half a million people provided with survival goods during the first three months of World Vision’s response to Typhoon Haiyan, the response team is now focusing on helping families and communities rebuild. 

Restoring livelihoods, reconstructing homes, protecting children and rebuilding community infrastructure are among the top priorities. 

“We’re now working towards helping families get back on their feet for the longer term. We are ready to help equip survivors with new skills to earn an income, help families repair and rebuild their homes, and fix broken schools and health care centres,” says Mike Weickert, World Vision Haiyan Response Manager. 

In the first 90-days of the response, World Vision supplied 680,575 people with food aid and other emergency goods. Shelter kits – with tarpaulins and ropes – helped 13,605 families find short-term solutions to destroyed roofs and buildings. 

In 60 of the hardest hit villages, World Vision opened safe places for some 20,000 children to recover from the psychological impact of the storm.  

“When children arrived, they were afraid. Living through and watching the devastation of Haiyan hit them hard emotionally. Over the course of nearly three months, by attending the daily sessions, we saw children overcome their stress, smiles return and play rekindled,” says Patrick Sooma, the Haiyan Child in Emergency manager. 

In partnership with the World Food Program, World Vision’s 90-day response also focused on providing unconditional cash grants to Haiyan survivors in locations where markets were restored quickly after the storm. Some 67,493,400 Pesos (1,491,734 US dollars) was distributed to more than 52,000 beneficiaries to help them recover. 

“In the next phase of our response, as local markets work more effectively, we will see more cash for work projects. This will allow us to be more effective and will give beneficiaries more choice in the items they purchase,” reported Mike Weickert.