Update of Father General on the Support for Typhoon Victims

Update of Father General on the Support for Typhoon Victims
(December 4, 2013)

The relief distribution and operation continue in some parts of the affected areas, especially among those who are still in desperate or have no means to survive after the typhoon. In my last update, I mentioned that the affected areas of the city of Tacloban were the next target area for relief supplies to be distributed. As the JPIC-IDC (Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation - Integrated Development Center), with its staff and volunteers, continues to extend help and to map out plans to effectively reach the victims of typhoon Yolanda, the challenge of helping and supporting them to recover and build up their lives remains a tremendous task. I would like to brief you with some of the developments since my last update on November 25.

1) Relief operations in Tacloban went smoothly after the initial experiences in Bantayan Island and surrounding villages. Five truckloads of relief goods were distributed to the typhoon victims. The relief operations team, in coordination with the local leaders, distributed several basic necessities in an orderly fashion.

2) Since November 16, with the help of a construction company and volunteers, the debris on the grounds of Liceo del Verbo Divino (LVD) in Tacloban have been removed. Those who are sheltered in LVD, whose houses were washed away by the storm surge, are employed for their daily sustenance.

3) JPIC and IDC of PHC commenced the rehabilitation phase, specifically the building/rebuilding of houses destroyed and washed out by the storm surge.

 

Here are some of the activities that have been engaged so far:

-Two villages in Dulag, Leyte have been identified as beneficiaries of the housing support, namely Barangay Del Carmen with 137 households and Barangay Maricum with 77 households. Both barangays are located in remote areas and the survivors have received less support from government or non-government organizations (NGOs) in comparison with other affected areas. The people living here are mainly coconut farmers.

-Two JPIC staff members from Agusan are temporarily based in the identified areas validating the beneficiaries, as well as managing and coordinating the different activities, especially for the implementation of the housing initiative. A hired contractual staff member, a teacher of LVD, continues to gather data and to assess the other areas towards the identification and selection of beneficiaries for the livelihood and schools supplies intervention.

-How does this building/rebuilding of houses work? The project will provide corrugated sheets, nails, lumber, plywood, cement, a hammer and handsaw to the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries’ counterpart is their labor. Only those who are willing and committed to build their houses can be given construction materials. The construction materials will be distributed in phases. This is to be monitored. By Christmas time those targeted beneficiaries will either have a new place to live or have their former house rebuilt.

The time element and effectiveness are important points of consideration in carrying out this building/rebuilding phase for the beneficiaries. I am confident that with our SVD team in place, with their collaborators and organizers, we will give joy and a ray of hope to those who are still reeling from the effects of the typhoon. The support and solidarity of benefactors, groups and concerned individuals have been extremely overwhelming and heart-warming. Some even have expressed their willingness to help in some kind of long-term development programs to assist affected communities.

Thank you.

Fr. Heinz Kulueke, SVD
Superior General