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Homeless International responds to the Philippines Disasters

Donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee Philippines Emergency Appeal can be made here: http://www.dec.org.uk/

In the aftermath of two major disasters in the Philippines, Homeless International’s local partner organisation in the country is supporting relief efforts and working on longer-term recovery for those affected.

In early November, Typhoon Haiyan – known as Yolanda in the Philippines – killed thousands of people and caused widespread devastation across the country. Only a few weeks earlier, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Bohol and Cebu islands in the Central Visayas region. People living on these islands had hardly recovered from the destruction, displacement and loss of lives caused by the earthquake when Haiyan hit, affecting the same Central Visayas provinces as well as the Eastern and Western Visayas.

Following the two disasters, HI are working closely with the Philippine Alliance to connect them with the appropriate resources and support networks to help their relief efforts and longer-term work.

The Homeless People’s Federation Philippines, Inc. (HPFPI) – part of the Philippine Alliance – has direct experience of helping to organise post-disaster relief and long-term recovery work and will be helping to bring affected communities together after Typhoon Haiyan and the Bohol earthquake, and supporting them to rebuild their lives, homes and communities.

HPFPI teams will initially begin work on the islands of Bohol, Cebu and Panay where HPFPI has regional bases and where earthquake-affected areas are still vulnerable and in need of urgent rehabilitation and recovery work. Teams will begin by assessing the situation in these regions and establishing contact with local communities, before providing relief support where it is needed and helping communities to mobilise and build their capacities for long-term recovery work. Through their assessment they will be able to devise with the communities a mid-long term rehabilitation and development strategy that will ensure that the devastated communities are able to come back stronger and more disaster-resilient than before. Some teams will be joined by technical professionals, including on Bohol Island where communities affected by the earthquake need immediate support as they return to their structurally damaged and unsafe homes.

Homeless International is in regular communication with staff at the Philippine Alliance and will be providing support where required. At this time they are not soliciting public donations to support this work; instead donations to wider relief efforts in the Philippines can be made through the Disasters Emergency Committee.  Donations to the DEC Philippines Emergency Appeal can be made here: http://www.dec.org.uk/

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