Typhoon Yolanda, internationally known as Haiyan, has become a name that’s hard to forget. The super typhoon wiped out homes, killed more than 6,000 people, and devastated agricultural lands leaving those who survived homeless and without any source of income. But for the people who witnessed its wrath, the only way to move forward was to pick up the pieces and rise.
Four years after Haiyan, affected poor and vulnerable communities in Visayas, Central Philippines have been engaged in various activities and trainings to recover, better prepare for disasters and adapt to climate change impact.
International humanitarian organization CARE has supported more than 600,000 people through different livelihood recovery programs providing cash grants and skill-building trainings to women microentrepreneurs, farmers, fisher folks, and commodity producers and processors.
“The country is regularly affected by typhoons and other hazards, and these hamper the recovery process. CARE works with these communities in building resilience to disasters and engaging more women to lead and participate,” said David Gazashvili, CARE’s Country Director in the Philippines.
According to the 2016 World Risk Index, the Philippines is the third most disaster-prone country in the world. After Haiyan, the country suffered from relatively strong typhoons such as Hagupit in 2014, Koppu and Melor in 2015 and Sarika and Haima in 2016.
CARE is currently supporting over 280 community associations such as women’s organizations, farmers and fisherfolks’ groups and local cooperatives through trainings on entrepreneurship, organic farming, sustainable agriculture, hazard mapping and contingency planning for disaster preparedness, gender and development, climate change mitigation and other industry-focused subjects.
CARE’s assisted community organizations are now practicing organic farming and applying other eco-friendly and innovative agricultural techniques. Farmers and commodity processors are now using solar dryers for their products, building structures according to “Build back safer” techniques and ensuring that their livelihoods don’t degrade the ecosystem.
“The biggest challenge for these communities is to protect their assets from various hazards that’s why our emergency response is part of a long-term commitment. We place great importance on building local capacity, partnerships with local organizations and strengthening women’s participation,” shared Gazashvili.
Aside from financial support, CARE has partnered with various local non-government organizations, government agencies and local government units, universities and training institutions to provide technical assistance to people affected by Haiyan.
CARE continues to work with the affected people and reach more communities in the Philippines. CARE works in the most vulnerable and geographically isolated areas affected by Haiyan, with special attention given to women and girls and the most marginalized.
About CARE: CARE is one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations supporting more than 963 poverty-fighting development and humanitarian-aid projects in 94 countries. CARE has worked in the Philippines since 1949, providing emergency relief when disaster strikes, helping communities prepare for disasters, and implementing sustainable livelihood projects. CARE’s past responses in the Philippines include typhoon Pablo (Bopha) in 2012, Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, Ruby (Hagupit) in 2014, (Koppu) and (Melor) in 2015, (Sarika), Lawin (Haima), Nina (Nock-ten) in 2016, earthquake in Surigao City and Marawi armed conflict in 2017.
Media Contacts:
David Gazashvili, Country Director, CARE Philippines +63 917 510 6974 ([email protected])
Dennis Amata, Information and Communications Manager, CARE Philippines +63 917 510 8150 ([email protected])
*For updates on CARE’s work in the Philippines, please follow @CAREphl on Twitter and CARE Philippines on Facebook
For more on our work in the Philippines, click here.