Typhoon threatens recovery efforts in Philippines

Barely 13 months after typhoon Haiyan devastated provinces in Eastern Visayas in the Philippines, survivors are now bracing themselves for another potentially devastating tropical storm.

Typhoo Hagupit (Ruby) is gathering strength and is expected to hit land over the weekend bringing with it damaging winds and flooding. If it continues on its current path it is expect to bear down on the region devastated by Typhoon Haiyan a year ago. 

In Tacloban, one of the hardest hit areas during typhoon Haiyan, people are once again flooding into evacuation centers.  Many of the survivors have learned from Haiyan, choosing to evacuate well ahead of the anticipated storm. 

Grace, who works in a hotel in the city, explained that the eerie calm is most terrifying because it's almost the same as it was during Haiyan; everything was so calm until the heavy rain and strong winds came.  

Andrew Rosauer, World Vision Response Director, has mobilized the emergency response team in Tacloban City. World Vision staff are on standby and ready to respond if the impact of Hagupit will be severe.

“We’ve seen survivors rebuild from typhoon Haiyan in the last 13 months, but there is still a long way to go. We are concerned that Hagupit has the potential to undo so much progress, when people were well on the way to recovery," said Andrew Roseauer. 

There is a general sense of fear and concern as people monitor the situation. On the streets, people were hauling their meager belongings in pedicabs and pick-up trucks to evacuation centers, or relatives sturdy houses.

World Vision UK CEO Justin Byworth, who visited Tacloban earlier this year, said: 

"When you have seen family members swept away or your house destroyed during a typhoon, the news that a similar storm could be on the way can trigger memories of suffering and trauma." 

"However, the people of the Philippines are extremely resilient as they proved in the way they overcame devastating odds last year. I have no doubt that they will show their extraordinary spirit if forced to do so once again - and World Vision will be there to help them."

World Vision’s Typhoon Haiyan Response team based in Tacloban has prepositioned emergency relief kits for distribution to over 1,000 families. World Vision is working closely with the UN cluster for joint preparations and information sharing.

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