By Matan Boiness | Country Director, Philippines
Typhoons Kai-Tk and Tembin
Between the 15th and 23rd of December, Typhoons Kai-Tak (Urduja) and Tembin (Vinta) swept through the Eastern Visayas and Mindanao regions of the Philippines.
There were approximately 200 reported fatalities, with some still missing. The heavy downpours and flash flooding caused considerable destruction to the regions' infrastructure, including immediate damage to roads, bridges and houses. The most affected communities are now dealing with poor housing conditions, shortages of safe water, damage to their livelihoods and sanitation issues.
In Ormoc, there are already 20,000 people at the city's evacuation centers whose homes were destroyed – most of these had still been living in temporary accommodation since Typhoon Yolanda hit in 2013.
IsraAID's team in the Philippines immediately distributed 200 hygiene kits to families with babies and young children, nursing mothers and the elderly. This emergency distribution was facilitated in conjunction with the Youth Development Office, Department of Disaster Risk Reduction Management and the Philippine Red Cross.
Damage to IsraAID's agricultural program:
Typhoon Kai-Tak also hit some areas in Leyte, including our agricultural project in Cabintan. Although some of the large structures and several of the smaller tunnels were damaged, fortunately, the majority of the protective tunnels remained standing and successfully sheltered the crops from the storm.
All the local farmers were very happy and encouraged to see their crops survive the typhoon, thanks to the protective structures that they put in place as part of the agricultural initiative.
The local community helped the farmers clear the area, and remove any debris from the typhoon!
In addition, in November, 30 farmers and three agricultural technologists from Kananga, Leyte, visted the IsraAID-Calcoa agriculture project. They observed the facilities and discussed technical problems that the local farmers were facing. One of the most discussed topics was the optimum irrigation techniques and water quantities for the crops. The visit helped the farmers think through some of their current challenges, and make a plan going forwards.
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