UPDATE 1 year on from Typhoon Haiyan

UPDATE 1 year on from Typhoon Haiyan

One year on from Haiyan November 8, 2014. One year ago, typhoon Haiyan struck the Visayas area of the Philippines, killed 6,300 people and damaged or destroyed more than one million homes, according to government figures. Habitat for Humanity is progressing with construction of permanent homes at 10 sites in areas severely affected by the typhoon. We started rebuilding just three months after Typhoon Haiyan struck and currently have close to 1,000 houses completed or under construction. The families who will live in these new houses have been identified at some project sites, with a similar determination process underway at the remaining locations. More funding is needed to continue rebuilding efforts, said Rick Hathaway, Habitat for Humanity s Asia-Pacific Vice President. Habitat for Humanity committed to long term reconstruction one year after Typhoon Haiyan The rebuilding of the Philippines started with a groundbreaking ceremony on Bantayan Island, northern Cebu, on Monday 10 February 2014. 240 houses are expected to be built at this site; all are currently under construction.

Shelter repair kits and core houses Habitat started distributing emergency shelter kits just days after Haiyan struck, shifting to shelter repair kits as needs changed. To date, Habitat has supported nearly 28,000 families with emergency shelter and shelter repair kits. Habitat for Humanity has also built temporary class and supported families to develop livelihoods. Habitat for Humanity Philippines aims to distribute 30,000 shelter repair kits and build 30,000 core houses. However, the scale of assistance will depend on the amount of funds we are able to raise: A shelter repair kit for one family costs approx 280 and a core house will cost approximately 3.600. Core houses are built using permanent materials. Scarcity of suitable land and available construction materials are some of the logistical challenges being faced. However, progress is being made and we know reconstruction is likely to take many years. Habitat for Humanity is committed to supporting affected families in the Visayas long term. Alongside building permanent homes, we are continuing to distribute shelter repair kits to aid the own recovery efforts of families affected by the typhoon, continued Hathaway. Construction work is underway at two sites in Cebu province and eight sites in Leyte province. It is not yet possible to say when the first families could move in to their new homes. Some houses have already been completed, but it is not possible for them to move in to a construction site where homes are still being built and/or further site development still needs to take place (e.g. connecting electricity, water or sewerage systems). Once houses are constructed, Habitat for Humanity Philippines hands these over to the local government. The local government in turn will then give the homes to selected families. Habitat for Humanity will rebuild homes using government-approved house designs. House designs have been developed in consultation with Habitat for Humanity and other international shelter organizations, and so will meet minimum international humanitarian response shelter standards.

Christopher Ilustrisimo s house was flattened when a coconut tree fell on it during Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Visayas area of the Philippines on 8 November 2013. He is currently volunteering his own labor, or sweat equity, to build houses on a Habitat reconstruction site in Daanbantayan island, Cebu province. He was interviewed on the site in Maricaban barangay, Sante Fe municipality on 20 October 2014. Each time that Christopher Illustrisimo, 53, contributes sweat equity at a Habitat Philippines reconstruction site, he sees the fruit of his labor as the housing units are being built. In helping to build the housing units, he also gains assurance. Even if a strong storm hits, I would still feel safe because the house is made of concrete, said Christopher, a tricycle driver. When the typhoon struck last November, his wooden house was flattened by a fallen coconut tree, among the numerous coconut trees in the area where he lives. An international non-governmental organization set up a tent for Christopher and his wife Basilica, 54, not far from where their old house stood. During the day, it is too hot to remain inside the tent so Basilica would move her work table outside. She gathers small seashells and strings them into necklaces for sale in the local market. As a Habitat home partner-to-be, Christopher is required to put in a total of 400 hours of his labor at the project site to help build houses for families affected by Typhoon Haiyan. He has been contributing sweat equity since mid-august. It is not often that people who have lost their homes in a disaster get to build houses, said Christopher. However, he is more than ready. If I work on my own house, I can truly call it a house of my own. A good house for my granddaughter When his house is completed, he plans to ask his daughter Pilda, a 19-year single mother of a young child, to live with him. Pilda s daughter will be one year old next year. Christopher has a birthday wish. With a good house, I hope my granddaughter will grow up healthy and strong.

I am building a house for my kids Babelyn Alon s house was badly damaged by Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Visayas area of the Philippines on 8 November 2013. Tears welled up in the eyes of Babelyn Alon, 30, when she remembered the harrowing escape from Typhoon Haiyan. With four children in tow, including a sevenmonth-old baby, her family had to run out of their house after the storm ripped off its roof. While making their way to Babelyn s aunt s house about 8 kilometers away, a coconut tree fell and nearly crushed her husband Nicky Vergara, 34. Babelyn recalled: I have no more milk to breastfeed my child. We were too hungry and had to eat coconut flesh for three days. Since 15 August, Babelyn has been contributing her own labor on a Habitat for Humanity Philippines rebuilding site in Maricaban barangay on Bantayan island in Cebu province. Each time, she works for half a day. Habitat Philippines requires home partners-to-be to contribute a total of 400 hours of sweat equity. Along with home partners-to-be, Babelyn breaks rocks into smaller pieces and carries them to where floor foundations have to be laid. Although Babelyn does not know if the house that she works on will eventually be her permanent home, she is steadfast in carrying out the tasks. With each rock or hollow block that she carries, she says to herself: I m building my house. I m doing it for my kids so that they can have a permanent house. The days of having only coconut flesh for food are behind her. Her family has a stable income which averages about 5,000 pesos ( 90) a month. She works as a fish vendor while her husband is employed as a driver in one of the island s resorts. Now, she looks forward to a permanent home for her children. With the Habitat reconstruction site being further away from the coast, Babelyn believes that her family would be safe from future storms. We would feel more protected and there is some buffer from strong winds.

When I see my kids smile, I am happy Mary Jane Lagarel Suco s house was destroyed when Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Visayas region of the Philippines on 8 November 2013. Mary Jane and her family of seven managed to run out before a big tree flattened their house. They went to a neighbor s house which had another seven families taking refuge. The roof of the neighbor s house was blown off but Mary Jane and her family could stay a night. Her fear was apparent when she talked about the disaster. For Mary Jane Lagarel Suco, 37, her family comes first. Despite having to run for her life when Typhoon Haiyan hit, she headed to Davao a week later to borrow money from her mother. There, she also obtained seeds from a former classmate so that she could start growing vegetables again to replace the garden that was destroyed along with her house. They built a temporary shelter using whatever materials they could salvage and slept on the ground. This was to be their home for several months. In mid- August, Mary Jane received a shelter repair kit from Habitat for Humanity Philippines. With the items from the kit, Mary Jane and her partner were able to repair their house in Kananga municipality, Leyte province. Their current house which is bigger than their old house before the typhoon. Bernardo and Mary Jane have a room to themselves while their five children sleep in another room. Outside the house, Mary Jane grows vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, okra, squash, string beans and a local gourd. Bursts of color come from the flowering plants and potted plants that line a wall of her house. I planted flowers because I want the house to look more beautiful, said Mary Jane. Mary Jane earns 100 to 200 pesos ( 1.75 to 3.50) a day by going from house to house to sell her vegetables. She also provides for her family in another way. She asked for flash cards from a church that she attended. She used the cards to teach her children letters of the alphabet and telling directions. Her neighbors children also turned up at her house to learn. I became a teacher to them, Mary Jane said with a smile. Mary Jane also wishes to see her children, aged between 4 and 13, complete higher education, unlike Bernardo and her. When I see my kids smile when they are learning, I am happy. Their happiness is transferred to me, she said.

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