In response to the disastrous situation after typhoon Haiyan struck the central parts of the Philippines in early November 2013, emergency assistance activities were implemented over a period of three months, targeting families severely hit by the typhoon. The Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, an international organisation that has been supporting the Philippines since 1955, acted as the local implementing partner of HOPE’87. As an organisation they provide schooling and work to support and protect females at their venues throughout the Philippines. When the typhoon hit the islands in 2013, the Sisters immediately offered their assistance and put their facilities at the disposal of emergency relief actions. They primarily provided emergency assistance to the most vulnerable people and families, who had not benefitted from previous humanitarian efforts. Hence, at the initial state of the project, the Sisters identified local contacts and conducted a rapid need-assessment. Afterwards, emergency kits comprising food, toiletries, clothing, and kitchen equipment were procured with financial support of donors such as HOPE’87 and the Foundation UNESCO and distributed to provide those in need with necessary supplies. Furthermore, people were provided with moral and psychological assistance and support with special regard to traumatized children. The German association “APOTHEKER HELFEN” provided medicine and medical equipment for the Typhoon victims that were delivered to the Salesian Sisters in Cebu City to be used in medical centres.

Project Background: 

Typhoon Haiyan (locally called “Yolanda”), a category-5 storm devastated the Philippines on November 8, 2013 affecting 14.1 million people in 9 regions nationwide. It whacked Eastern Samar and Leyte, the two most devastated among 44 affected provinces and 57 cities in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga regions. As of 14 Jan 2014, Typhoon Haiyan displaced 4.1 milllion, damaged 1.1 million houses (of which 551,000 were totally destroyed), and killed more than 6,000 people.