Sebastien Jouffroy is a humanitarian worker for the Canadian Red Cross. He was deployed to the Philippines for one year and will send updates on his experiences throughout the mission. This is Sebastien’s first blog post from the Philippines.
While it is true that a rainbow often follows a storm, clear skies have yet to reach the Philippines. I participated as a team leader for the Canadian Red Cross’ field hospital deployment following Typhoon Haiyan and returned home last December. After seeing firsthand the devastation the typhoon had caused, I could only hope that calm would soon be restored to the country.
Eight months later, I am back in the Philippines for one year to help the Philippine Red Cross deploy its own field hospital. My partner and I arrived in Manila on July 14, about the same time that Typhoon Rammasun
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struck the country. More than 12 million people were put on alert and the Philippine Red Cross was forced to coordinate another emergency response. While we were overcoming our jetlag, the Red Cross assisted 37,800 families in 64 municipalities.
My work over the next year will follow up on the Canadian field hospital that was deployed after Typhoon Haiyan struck. The hospital was transferred to our colleagues at the Philippine Red Cross so that it may be redeployed in the event of another major disaster. My role now is to share the Canadian Red Cross’ experience and to lend a hand so that the hospital may be a helpful tool in future emergency operations.
While I adapt to life in Manila, discuss objectives for the project that will occupy me for the next year and look for a place to live, I am impressed once again by the dedication and professionalism of my colleagues at the Philippine Red Cross. By never losing sight of their mission despite the devastation and destruction that befell their country, perhaps they are the rainbow—the sign of hope after the storm.