By SAMMY JULIAN
Manila News Bureau Chief
MANILA – With the relief phase of its super typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) operation fully completed and tangible progress in the recovery phase clearly seen, a new plan of action is currently being developed.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will revise its emergency appeal. There will likely be a reduction in targets across various sectors.
“Many of the initial emergency phase targets have been achieved, while others have been adjusted to meet real-time existing needs on the ground,” the IFRC said in a summary of its emergency appeal operation over the first six months (November 2013 to May 2014).
Supported by the deployment of more than 8,235 volunteers, the IFRC said the delivery of essential non-food items has reached 160,730 households in Panay, Leyte, Cebu and Palawan islands, while 49,844 beneficiary households received cash grants.
On the other hand, up to 158,727 emergency shelter items were distributed to more than 119,314 typhoon-affected households, including 119,314 tarpaulins, 2,158 tents and 37,255 shelter tool kits.
Meanwhile, clean water of up to 6.3 million liters was provided to affected households in Tacloban City, Tolosa and Tabontabon in Leyte.
According to the IFRC, operation is now in the early recovery phase and focuses on the strengths of the Philippine Red Cross and affected communities themselves.
With the support of IFRC and Partner National Societies (PNSs), PRC facilitates communities in taking an active role in their own recovery through the establishment of barangay recovery committees comprising of community leaders who will oversee and facilitate longer-term recovery of beneficiary families.
IFRC said these committees are key in ensuring an integrated approach in water and sanitation, shelter and livelihood.
To date, 62 model core shelter houses were built in Tabontabon, Leyte and in Aklan while the distribution of shelter repair assistance, comprising of corrugated galvanized iron (CGI) sheets and cash grants were done to 3,022 households in Cebu and Panay.
In support of the shelter program and the substantial volume of building materials expected to arrive, four fully-functional logistics hubs and warehouses have been established in Cebu, Leyte and Panay.
Of these materials, 75,000 CGI sheets of an anticipated 300,000 have already arrived and have either been delivered or are being processed for delivery to the distribution points for beneficiary households under the shelter program.
On the other hand, the IFRC disclosed that contributions towards its typhoon appeal have been “numerous and far-reaching”, currently achieving up to 66 percent of the 126.2 million Swiss francs (roughly P6.2 billion) target appeal, comprising 60 percent in hard pledges and six percent in soft pledges.
The appeal now seeks additional funding of 49.5 million Swiss francs to cover the funding gap, the IFRC said./PN
