By Jon Ehrenfeld | Project Officer
Transitioning from Relief to Recovery
In March 2014, PWA staff visited families and community leaders in three of the hardest hit barangays (villages) on Busuanga Island. Since the November 8 Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), PWA has served these barangay’s fishing and farming families, providing meals, water, blankets, shelter, hygiene kits, and supplies. With the relief phase now over, the barangay leaders, farmers, and fisherfolk are asking Peace Winds America to join them in rebuilding their neighborhoods and homes, and in regaining their fishing and farming livelihoods.
In late March PWA staff joined our local partners* in a site visit to Busuanga. We had the opportunity to meet local community leaders, aid recipients, and barangay officials. They confirmed that the immediate needs (such as food and water) had been met, but that their communities were still devastated by the storm.
In response, PWA and our local partners are focusing on recovery, distributing the much-need farming, fishing, and housing supplies. We are purchasing plywood and nylon netting to help fisherfolk repair their boats and nets, which were badly damaged or destroyed. Other high-priority items include livestock (swine, chickens), seaweed culture (ropes and seeds), rice seed and farm tools. All families especially need plywood, tools, and galvanized iron sheets to rebuild their homes as they move from housing shelters. Before the rainy season begins in late May the communities are seeking carabao (water buffalo), which multiple families share to help prepare their rice paddies for planting.
PWA and local partners are committed to work side-by-side with these communities as the farmers and fisherfolk strive to restore their livelihoods and homes over the next twelve months. Typhoon relief may have ended, but the needs on the road back to normalcy are great.
*Our recovery partners are the Citizens Disaster Relief Corps (CDRC) and the Southern Tagalog People’s Response Center (STPRC)
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