Philippines Emergency Appeal:
Habitat for Humanity Launches Response to Typhoon Haiyan
Last week Typhoon Haiyan smashed into the Philippines. It was accompanied by a storm that caused
widespread flooding. To date, up to 10 million people have been affected in 41 provinces. More than two
million families are vulnerable with no safe and secure home. Lives have been shattered and people are
struggling to meet their most personal human needs: shelter, maintaining health, privacy and dignity.
Habitat was founded in the Philippines 25 years ago and
since then has helped 70,000 families to improve their
shelter conditions. Habitat has teams on the ground
working with the families and communities most
affected by this disaster. We are determined to reach as
many families as possible. We will help families meet
their immediate needs and work with them in the long
term to rebuild their lives.
Habitat’s “Pathways to Permanence” is the process of
reducing vulnerability while supporting disasteraffected families and communities to make progress
towards achieving permanent, durable shelter and
settlements. We will work in partnership with local
people and other humanitarian organisations to ensure
the effectiveness of the response is multiplied.
During the response and recovery effort Habitat will:
Distribute 50,000 Hygiene Kits for houses damaged by mud and flood waters
These Hygiene Kits are a simple aid to help families reorganise their home prior to assessment of full
damage. This Kit includes a broom, mop, pail, floor brush and industrial disinfectant cleanser. This will
help families to clean their damaged homes when they return after the disaster. This is crucial to help
prevent the spread of disease and maintain health, particularly during this time of increased vulnerability.
Each kit costs approximately £30.
New Life at the Scene of Disaster
Last Saturday, in the immediate wake of Typhoon Haiyan, a Habitat team conducted assessments on the
island of Bohol. Electricity was lost in the area and the Habitat Mobile Emergency Response vehicle
provided power to the local health station during the delivery of 4 babies!
Distribute 30,000 Shelter Repair Kits
Once the homes have been cleared and damage is
assessed, Habitat will support families through a
Shelter Repair Kit Programme. These Kits are
distributed to families that have been selected based
on the degree of damage. Priority will be given to
homes with children and infants, especially nursing
mothers. Kits can include items such as plywood,
lumber, corrugated iron sheeting, a hammer,
handsaw and nails (see photo on the right).
A shelter repair kit costs approximately £215.
Build 10,000 Core Houses
In the aftermath of immediate disaster, the next challenge is to move families away from disaster areas and
build durable and decent housing. Habitat will develop three house designs (detached, duplex type and
row houses) for the relocation site with a floor area of 21 square metres. Each house will have a toilet and
access to potable water.
A core house costs approximately £1750.
On the map on the right, red indicates the areas that have been impacted by
the typhoon. The five locations marked on the maps are where Habitat
Philippines will to implement the Disaster Response Project.
Habitat is the world leader in shelter aid. Our Disaster Response
programmes focus on the housing needs that arise from natural disasters and
humanitarian emergency conflicts. Habitat uses integrated approaches that
revolve around sustainable shelter and housing solutions. Since the Indian
Ocean Tsunami in 2004, Habitat’s Disaster Response programme has served
more than 150,000 families and reached many thousands more through
disaster risk reduction.
Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland, Riverside Centre, Young Street, Lisburn, BT27 5EA
Telephone: 028 92 635635 Website: www.habitatni.co.uk
Registered Charity No. XR18070