With financial help from Humanity & Inclusion, more than 1,500 people helped clear roads blocked by debris from Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines.
Following the passage of Typhoon Mangkhut, which struck the northern Philippines on Sept. 14, HI traveled to the municipalities of Kalinga and Ifuago to identify the needs of disaster-affected people affected.
The typhoon destroyed or damaged more than one million acres of crops one month before harvest. In Pinukpuk, 90% of maize plantations and 60% of rice plantations were destroyed. The disaster hit farmers the hardest.
HI supplied relief in the municipality of Pinukpuk (Kalinga province), one of the worst affected areas. We distributed 80 clearance kits, consisting of wheelbarrows, shovels, knives, hammers, gloves, etc. to families in 23 villages. These kits were shared with villagers who will use them to clear roads and public areas. They benefited more than 40,000 people.
More than 1,500 workers were hired to support these clearance tasks (clearing roads, repairing pipes, etc.). These activities were carried out in close collaboration with local government units. "This project mobilizes a traumatized community around a collective project,” explains Reiza Dejito, Director of HI in the Philippines.
“It’s really positive. It strengthens ties and helps them overcome the shock of the disaster. All workers received a small sum of cash from HI in return, which they could use to buy food at the market. These actions are beneficial for everyone.”
Humanity & Inclusion in the Philippines
Present in the Philippines for more than 30 years, HI regularly works with people affected by natural disasters in the archipelago and launched a large-scale response to Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, which affected more than 14 million people and claimed more than 6,000 lives. Three victims of Typhoon Haiyan recall how they coped with the tragedy. Learn more about our work in the Philippines.