Humanitarian agency World Vision holds grave concerns for communities across the Philippines this morning as Typhoon Hagupit weaves its way through areas already battered by Typhoon Haiyan just one year ago.
A total blackout in the city of Tacloban and neighbouring areas is still in effect after 12 hours, and World Vision staff said the storm wreaked havoc on the region throughout the night, felling trees and blowing roofs off houses.
Australian aid worker and World Vision Operations Director Jenny MacCann said the agency will immediately begin doing rapid needs assessments as soon as it is safe to do so, and is ready to respond with staff on the ground and pre-positioned emergency supplies for rapid distribution.
Ms MacCann said it was heartbreaking to think the huge gains made by relief operations in the area since Typhoon Haiyan hit 13 months ago were now under threat.
“It’s really tough to see these people who been through a huge disaster only a year ago, have what they’ve rebuilt smashed by another typhoon.
“In this city, there are a lot of people still living in patchwork houses made out of debris from the storm a year ago, and a lot people living on the coastline who don’t have access to any sort of land rights.”
Aid agencies hope that mass evacuations over the past two days have protected the most vulnerable but it is believed only about half of Tacloban’s population of 200,000 people took refuge, either with friends or family, or in one of the city’s 49 evacuation centres.
Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,200 people when it struck on November 8, 2013. Since that time, World Vision has reached more than 1 million people affected by Haiyan with life-saving interventions including provision of temporary shelter, food, hygiene kits and water kits. The relief response, including extreme weather resistant rebuilding and disaster preparedness awareness, has increased the resilience of affected communities to withstand future typhoons.
To donate to World Vision Australia’s Disaster Ready call 13 32 40 or visit www.worldvision.com.au/disasterready
World Vision staff are available for interview in Australia and the Philippines. Please contact Gabrielle Brophy on 0407 575 112 or Chloe Adams on 0428 752 553.