The World Federation of KSIMC

In November 2013, when Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines, The World Federation launched a humanitarian appeal to raise funds to assist in the relief and recovery efforts.  Donors from around the world responded and The World Federation raised $15,000 USD in donations. Since then, The World Federation has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist in the medium-term relief and recovery efforts in the Philippines.

After consulting with the UNDP team in the Philippines, donations raised for the PHILIPPINES TYPHOON HAIYAN APPEAL will support ‘emergency employment generation and small business recovery’ by providing immediate employment opportunities and restoration of livelihood. Given the high incidence of poverty that existed even before the typhoon hit, this initiative will help men and women to become financially independent.  

In the immediate to short term of any disaster, many non-governmental organisations respond instantly with emergency aid to ensure food, water, shelter and medical care are provided to the victims. Over the years, The World Federation’s experience has shown that fewer organisations remain on the ground to support victims over the medium to long term. Hence, much of The World Federation’s disaster response strategy focuses on the medium to long-term recovery efforts and our current work in the Philippines reflects this approach. 

EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT GENERATION AND ENTERPRISE RECOVERY PLAN

Efforts are under way in the Philippines to deliver basic services and support the local people to become self-sufficient towards pre-typhoon levels. The ‘Emergency Employment Generation and Enterprise Recovery Plan’ which The World Federation is supporting in the Philippines aims to:

• Providing vulnerable communities with immediate employment opportunities and stabilization of livelihoods through job creation and enterprise promotion;

• Focus in particular on the promotion of ‘green’ and sustainable jobs, in sectors such as processing and reuse of debris timber and windfall lumber from storm damage, creation of sustainable livelihood clusters in upland areas, and rehabilitation of local community infrastructure;

• Take place over 12 months, with immediate employment opportunities (cash for work) undertaken during the immediate 6-month period and longer-term job

• creation and enterprise promotion during the subsequent six months.

The World Federation will continue to share any updates on this initiative received from the UNDP team on the ground through its weekly newswire and website.

ABOUT TYPHOON HAIYAN

On 8 November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines, causing extensive damage to life, housing, livelihoods and infrastructure across nine of the country’s poorest provinces. It was the most powerful storm ever recorded where rain fell at rates of up to 30 mm per hour, winds reached upwards of 315 km per hour, and massive storm surges up to 6 metres high hit coastal areas.

The islands of Leyte and Samar were hardest hit where 90 percent of the infrastructure of Leyte’s largest urban center, Tacoloban City, was destroyed. The estimated volume of municipal debris in Tacloban City alone was 1 million m3 (i.e. 10 football fields piled 10m high with waste). Philippine authorities estimate that approximately:

• 16.1 million people have been affected

• 4.1 million people are displaced and homeless

• 6,155 deaths are confirmed dead1,785 people are still missing
• 1.1 million homes are damaged or destroyed 

For more information, please email [email protected]