USAID, CRS conclude 1-yr. Yolanda recovery program

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the city government of Tacloban, on December 3 marked the conclusion of the 24-month typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Recovery Program in ceremonies held at the city’s Astrodome.

Among the officials who attended the ceremony were Ben Hemingway of the USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance; Greg Auberry, CRS East and South Asia regional director; Joseph Curry, CRS country representative; City Councilor Cristina Romualdez and other city officials.

Hemingway, in his speech, said: “The resilience and determination of the people of Leyte to recover and build back better truly inspire all of us. The American people, through USAID, will continue to work with our friends in the Philippines to help rebuild this region better and stronger.”

For the last two years, USAID and CRS have worked in partnership with local officials to help restore normalcy and provide shelter to 3,275 homeless families in 24 coastal barangays of the city, and also trained beneficiaries to integrate themselves with their new communities, interact with new neighbors and recover their sense of dignity.

The USAID and CRS said they also provided repair kits to Yolanda victims whose houses were partially damaged, including materials to build new roofs, plus assistance in the form of apartment or land rental subsidies and support for those who found temporary host families.

The two relief organizations also launched water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and disaster risk reduction activities throughout the city, where they installed 1,000 toilets, restored safe water to at least 200 families and trained 3,000 people in hygiene promotion.

USAID and CRS also trained 4,000 people in evacuation drills, and then initiated the planting of mangroves in a 5,000 square-meter lot to help the city address the impact of typhoons and other natural disasters. Fifteen public structures were also built throughout the city, such as playgrounds and a new community center, the two organizations told The Freeman.

Liezel Corales, president of the group of residents at the relocation site’in Barangay Utap, said she received a new house through the program. “After Yolanda, my family and I stayed in an evacuation center for nine months. With the typhoon Haiyan Recovery Program, we now have a home to call our own.”

To date, the U.S. government has provided $143 million fund to help the Philippines respond to, and recover from the devastating effects of Yolanda. In addition to the humanitarian assistance, USAID had been supporting rehabilitation and recovery efforts in the typhoon-affected areas, particularly in Leyte province.  (FREEMAN)