Three Months After Yolanda, WFP's Support Boosts Recovery for Survivors

photo by Dale Rivera/WFP Philippines

Three months after Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, devastated the Philippines, more than 2.8 million people have received emergency food and nutrition support through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in partnership with the Government of the Philippines, NGOs and UN agencies. In the coming weeks and months, WFP will help families rebuild their livelihoods while continuing to meet the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.

“The destruction caused by Yolanda was and remains staggering, but equally striking are the unbroken spirit of the Filipino people, the concerted action of the Philippine Government and its partners, and the tremendous support from other countries, the private sector and thousands of people who are helping communities survive and build back better,” said Praveen Agrawal, WFP Representative and Country Director in the Philippines.

“In the days and weeks after the storm, WFP mobilised quickly with life-saving food rations and nutrition support. We introduced cash assistance early on, and to date 500,000 people have received money to buy what they need in their local market,” Agrawal added.

Through cash assistance, WFP not only aims to increase the food security and nutritional wellbeing of typhoon survivors, but also to stimulate local markets and services, giving whole communities a kick-start on the road to recovery.

Much work is still needed to clear debris, rehabilitate community infrastructures and recover agricultural land to allow long-term recovery and development activities to take effect. WFP plans to implement cash- and food-for-work activities for some 500,000 people to support this process.

“WFP’s cash-for-work and food-for-work programmes give people the support they need to feed their families, while at the same time providing a benefit to the whole community,” says Samir Wanmali, WFP Emergency Coordinator. “We will support families to clear debris and drainage systems and prepare land for replanting.” 

Key Operational Achievements, since 8 November 2013:

• More than 2.8 million people have received WFP emergency food supplies in the form of rice or high-energy biscuits.
• WFP food assistance has reached people in 100 municipalities in the provinces of Leyte, Samar and Panay.
• More than 500,000 people have received money to help them buy food.
• Specialised, ready-to-eat nutritious food delivered to 56,000 young children and their mothers. 
• WFP moved more than 28,000 metric tons of food by land, sea and air.
• In the first weeks of the emergency, WFP worked with more than 20 international militaries as well as the Philippine forces to deliver aid to affected areas.
• Remote locations on small islands and in mountainous areas were reached by helicopters, fishing boats and other means, including military assets.
• Through its lead of the humanitarian community’s Logistics Cluster, WFP transported another 35,000 metric tons of relief items for 39 different organizations.
• The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), managed by WFP, transported nearly 2,800 passengers across 20 affected areas.
• The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster, led by WFP, provided vital voice communications and internet connections to 6,000 humanitarian workers.

Going Forward:

• WFP will continue supporting the most vulnerable people with food or cash assistance.
• WFP plans to provide micronutrient powders and specialised nutritious food to more than 100,000 young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
• WFP will work with Provincial and Municipal Health and Nutrition Offices and NGOs to screen women and children and ensure those who are malnourished receive specialised food until they recover.
• Cash and food-for-assets projects for some 500,000 people will support families in activities that boost their food security, such as repairing irrigation systems and preparing land for replanting.