Where We Work : Philippines
Country Profile
| Population | 105,720,644 |
| People living on less than 1 euro a day | 18.4% |
| Human Development Rank | 114/187 |
| GNI per Capita | US$4400 |
| Life Expectancy | 72 |
| Literacy Rate | 95.4% |
| Global Hunger Ranking | 28 (13.2) Serious |
The Philippines, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a sovereign island country in Southeast Asia situated in the western Pacific Ocean.
In November 2013 Typhoon Haiyan ravaged through the Philippines. It was one of the most intense tropical storms to make landfall anywhere in the world. It brought torrential rain, sustained winds of over 195mph and a storm surge up to 30 metres high that devastated coastal areas.
It is estimated that 13 million people are affected and the confirmed death toll is 6,340 with a further 28,626 injured and 1,061 still missing.
Projects
Typhoon Haiyan EMERGENCY
The Philippines-One year on
It is hard to believe it has been nearly a year since Typhoon Haiyan ravaged through the Philippines and our partners on the ground have moved their programmes from emergency relief to rehabilitation. In the emergency relief phase emergency supply kits were provided for families and debris removal through cash for work initiatives were set up. Our partners focused on Sanitation and health promotion as well as providing child friendly spaces where children could have a safe place to play as well as receive psychological support.
Tearfund partners are now focusing on building foundations for future recovery, by supporting livelihoods and helping people prepare for future disasters through training initiatives and storm-proofing of new buildings. They also continue to provide spiritual and emotional support.
The work we’re doing in the Philippines encourages community engagement, and our relationship with the local church has made a huge difference to the recovery effort.
However the people of the Philippines still need our prayers. We would ask for prayer for the people of the Philippines who have lost so much; that they will find comfort and hope in God.
And for those who have been responding to the Typhoon and the devastation. That they will be sustained and hopeful for the future.
Tearfund’s Emergency Response
Support for Tearfund’s emergency appeal for the Philippines enabled our partners to launch a comprehensive aid response in the initial aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. This response involved Tearfund’s partners helping survivors who urgently needed food, water, shelter and support to find their loved ones.
Tearfund partner Medair started a 90-day emergency relief project in Leyte which aimed to help 120,000 people.
This included:
- emergency shelter kits with tarpaulins, iron roofing sheets and ropes
- household items for 24,000 people such as blankets, bedding, kitchen utensils
- hygiene and sanitation kits, including water treatment sachets, soap, jerry cans, buckets, and plastic latrine slabs for 4,800 vulnerable households (24,000 people)
- emergency health kits capable of providing emergency health care to 120,000 people for one month
- supporting rural health facilities that have been damaged, and restore vital supply chains of necessary medicines and supplies
Tearfund partner World Renew focused on:
- running a two week emergency food distribution in Ilo-ilo, Leyte and Samar targeting 4,000 families. It will also supply household, hygiene and sanitation items
- supplying 4,000 families with emergency food items including rice, milk, coffee and sugar, as well as blankets and sleeping mats
- providing access to clean water for 4,000 families