It has been a year since Typhoon Haiyan (or Yolanda, as it is locally known) devastated large regions of the Philippines. One of the strongest storms in recorded history, Typhoon Haiyan left four million people homeless, and more than 14 million people in desperate need of aid.
Action Against Hunger/Action contre la Faim has been working in the Philippines since 2000, so our teams were uniquely positioned to arrive on the crisis scene within hours of the storm. In Typhoon Haiyan’s immediate aftermath, Action Against Hunger delivered nearly six tonnes of emergency food provisions to some of the worst-hit, remote regions.
Now, a year after Typhoon Haiyan had struck, Action Against Hunger’s commitment to the people of the Philippines remains as high as ever. Action Against Hunger teams continue to work hard to prevent malnutrition in communities still struggling to rebuild. Our teams remain on the scene delivering emergency food rations to people in need, screening children under five for malnutrition, and promoting care practices for mothers and their babies. Action Against Hunger recognizes that malnutrition was a serious problem in the Philippines even before the storm, and that this problem has escalated in the face of food insecurity and resource scarcity in Yolanda’s wake. Action Against Hunger teams treat cases of severe acute malnutrition and medical complications with inpatient care, and also conduct community-based outpatient programs.
Action Against Hunger also works to promote safe sanitation and hygiene practices, recognizing these as integral components of staving off malnutrition. Unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions contribute to dangerously high levels of diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera, which seriously compound the malnutrition problem. ACF teams are distributing hygiene kits, building latrines and hand-washing stations, and improving sanitation infrastructure in affected communities. To date, Action Against Hunger programs have reached 10 000 people, and have made significant contributions to pregnant and nursing mothers, single parents, families with malnourished children, and people whose livelihoods were destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan.
Action Against Hunger is also monitoring the use of unconditional cash grants, which are designed to help the most vulnerable and worst-affected get back on their feet. In addition, our teams continue to support Psychosocial and Care Practices to help people with the medium- and long-term after-effects of this psychological trauma. With the help of our partners, Action Against Hunger teams have reached almost 100 000 children under five and close to 17 000 pregnant and lactating women. Action Against Hunger continues to address the psychosocial care needs of these groups through 85 health centers in the affected regions.
The people of the Philippines, with the help of international teams like Action Against Hunger, have shown a level of resilience that is truly extraordinary. A year later, residents continue to restore their homes and rebuild their lives. Action Against Hunger remains committed to long-term reconstruction across the Philippines, and will remain in place to help rehabilitate the region.
Your support can help us to continue delivering life-saving aid to hundreds of thousands of people in need. Donate today.