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World Vision staff are working with national and local government and disaster units as super typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) threatens the Visayas islands this Friday. Communities situated along the storm's path have been prompted to take precautionary measures in response to the looming typhoon. World Vision response teams are on standby to support government efforts if needed.
World Vision currently assists 34,003 children in 17 Area Development Programmes (ADPs) in 12 Visayan provinces including of Samar, Leyte, and Bohol. The storm may even impact quake-hit zones of Bohol where World Vision currently has relief efforts.
News agencies are reporting that winds are predicted up to 240kph and heavy rains will cover up to a 300km diameter area. Storm signals have been hoisted in 37 areas.
“Our response teams are on standby to support government efforts if needed, staff and assisted families have been advised to take safety precautions,” assures Ernesto Macabenta, World Vision’s Associate Director of Operations in Visayas. World Vision staff are working with national and local government and disaster units, alerting communities along the storm's path for precautionary measures.
Crislyn Felisilda, World Vision communicator in Cagayan de Oro City shares, “Learning from our experience from typhoon Washi in 2011 (local name Sendong), many families took refuge in the South City Central School. They will be sleeping in evacuation centers as part of the city’s preemptive evacuations of communities in low-lying and flood-prone areas.”
School classes and work have been suspended in affected areas until Friday. Sea ports were closed for safety and to prevent casualties. Coastal communities were advised to halt fishing activities and evacuate if necessary while farmers were urged to harvest farm products. Local governments and disaster agencies are prepositioning relief supplies and have identified possible evacuation centers.
Power and communication lines are expected to be affected as typhoon makes landfall. Hospitals are ready and troops are also on standby for rescue and recovery operations. Local government and disaster agencies are also prepositioning relief supplies and have identified possible evacuation centers.
World Vision Disaster Risk Reduction staff Joyce Dumayag says, “Families should prepare their survival kits and make sure that they retrofit their homes. Here in Bohol, families should strengthen their tents and makeshift houses in areas that are not flood-prone.” Earlier rains brought byTyphoon Wilma this week submerged Bohol's quake-hit towns and evacuation centers, adding woes to displaced families.
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World Vision is child-focused humanitarian organization with 55 years of experience in the Philippines. World Vision has been doing development work in Visayas for more than 30 years already. Serving as faith-based representative of civil society organizations (CSO) in the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, (NDRRMC) World Vision has extensive experience in doing relief work and in working with children and communities in emergencies.
