Guest Post by Kathryn Dunmore, Red Cross Blogger
Philippine Red Cross volunteers assess this woman's house in Northern Cebu for shelter support. Typhoon Haiyan brought her house down completely; it is still tilting back; the entire foundation needs to be re-done.
Six months since Typhoon Haiyan devastated the central Visayas region of the Philippines last November, the Red Cross has so far provided shelter and non-food items to 2.75 million people, and over the next two years will help 800,000 survivors rebuild their lives.
The Canadian Red Cross deployed 46 aid workers to the Philippines, as well as its field hospital following the typhoon to meet emergency health needs. The field hospital and equipment has been handed over to the Philippine Red Cross to enhance health capacities in the region for future disasters. Longer term recovery efforts by the Red Cross include providing shelter and settlements, water and sanitation, and rehabilitation of health structures.
Health care needs including prevention of disease such as dengue remain a key focus. To date, the Red Cross has treated 20,000 patients at emergency health facilities, reached 64,000 families with community-based health activities and an additional 100,000 families with hygiene promotion messaging.
Philippine Red Cross volunteers and staff continue to provide critical psychosocial support to affected communities as part of the recovery process, benefitting more than 31,500 people so far.
For more information, read the 6-month report on Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts.