5 August 2008

The British Red Cross is contributing £104,000 to fund 1,500 shelters for people affected by Typhoon Fengshen, which hit the Philippines on 18 June 2008.

An estimated four million people have been affected by the typhoon. More than 92,000 houses have collapsed and a further 322,000 are severely damaged.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an appeal on 24 June and funds are urgently needed to enable the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) to provide assistance to 6,000 families for twelve months.

Typhoon Fengshen
 
Typhoon Fengshen is the sixth typhoon to hit this disaster-prone country in 2008 and is considered the worst this year. Ripping through the Philippines with winds of 140 kph, it left up to 875 people dead, 523 missing, and 826 injured.

Almost 90 per cent of the damaged houses are on Panay Island and in Eastern and Western Samar. More than 1,100 evacuation centres have been established to house approximately 150,000 people, but a considerable number of affected people have sought refuge with friends and families.

Rachid Boumnijel, relief support officer for the British Red Cross, said: "Despite showing great resilience in rebuilding their lives, two months on many people are still in desperate need of support. In most areas, local authorities and community members have said that their ability to provide construction materials to those who need them is overwhelmed."

Philippine National Red Cross

The PNRC responded immediately with around 300 volunteers distributing relief goods. Further support has been provided to some 69,000 people housed at evacuation centres.

Safe water and preventing waterborne disease is a priority and, in response to Red Cross assessments in two of the worst affected provinces, four water treatment units have been deployed to provide safe drinking water.

Typhoon-resistant shelters

The Red Cross is providing typhoon-resistant shelter, with latrines, for 5,000 families. The PNRC and Federation developed expertise in the construction of these shelters, adapted to local weather conditions and cultural sensitivities, during the 2006 typhoon operations.

Construction of the shelters is to be undertaken by the families themselves. Increased awareness of safe building and better construction techniques will be provided by the PNRC in the form of a 'construction theatre' in affected communities.

"It may sound unusual to ask people to rebuild their own homes but, with the support and expertise the Red Cross is providing, it is the most effective way of making sure everyone has a roof over their heads in the shortest possible time," explained Roger Bracke, head of the Federation delegation in the Philippines.

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