World Vision assisted over 80,000 people since twin typhoons Rolly and Ulysses hit Luzon last year
More than six months after Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni) and Typhoon Ulysses (international name Vamco) brought massive destruction in Luzon, international child-focused humanitarian agency World Vision provide assistance to more than 21,000 families or at least 80,000 affected individuals including 34,992 children in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Rizal, Albay, Catanduanes, and in the city of Marikina.
In November 2020, the consecutive typhoons affected 1.3 million families across Luzon and damaged 200,000 shelters, as well as critical structures like health facilities, schools, government facilities, and vast farm lands especially in the Bicol region. More than 139,000 families evacuated from their homes during Typhoon Rolly while 64,000 families also evacuated during Typhoon Ulysses . World Vision immediately launched an emergency response which concluded August this year.
The response also highlighted its efficient work in cash voucher programming which delivered cash assistance to families in different modalities. In Catanduanes, maternal and infant health and mental health care was also prioritized by supporting the government health centers and mobilizing community health volunteers.
Sheena Mae, a young mother from Virac in Catanduanes, expressed gratitude for receiving cash assistance under the Cash for Health programming. She said that the money was vital in supporting her infant’s basic needs while her family was recovering from the typhoon. “I used the cash assistance to buy diapers, infant clothes, and vitamins,” shared Sheena Mae.
Part of the response’s success is the partnership and the major funding received from European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNFPA, and generous donations from various kind-hearted individuals and at least 40 companies from the business community.
“We are thankful to our partners, donors, and individual contributors who made this emergency response possible. Your timely donation went a long way to help the families recover from the typhoons especially during the ongoing health crisis,” shared Rommel Fuerte, national director of World Vision in the Philippines.
Recently, Typhoon Kiko (international name: Chanthu) made landfall in the northernmost part of the Philippines. World Vision prepares and prepositions its capacity to respond to emergencies during the rainy season, as it constantly coordinates with the key government agencies and local partners especially in typhoon-prone areas.
