Since the onset of Yolanda, Germany has been relentless in the outpour of support for those devastated by the typhoon. German humanitarian relief organizations have been among the first
who reached the Philippines from abroad to help the victims of Typhoon
Yolanda – through a Lufthansa plane scheduled to fly from Germany to
Manila for its regular servicing, which was loaded with relief goods
after early news of the typhoon’s damage hit the screens.
Until today, German relief organizations have been working non-stop in the typhoon-stricken areas,
funded by massive donations of the German civil society and funds from
the German Government – released within a heartbeat following news of
the typhoon’s devastation.
To quantify this support: more than 176 million Euros, (Php 10.7 billion) for relief and rehabilitation efforts in the regions affected by Typhoon Yolanda came from Germany. Out of these, an outstanding 144 million Euros (Php 8.7 billion) are made up of German private donations to relief organizations actively operating in the Visayas regions. In addition to private donations, the German government
contributed a total of 32 million Euros (Php 2 billion) out of which 16
million Euros were given in humanitarian aid for the immediate relief
of victims of the typhoon, while 16 million Euros were allocated for
reconstruction of areas destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda.
Until today, many German aid organizations are implementing
reconstruction programs in the areas hit by the Typhoon. Examples are:
Johanniter Unfallhilfe, Malteser International and Plan International.
Johanniter Unfallhilfe is
working on the islands of Panay and Leyte. Johanniter’s main activities
on Panay focus on the repair of infrastructure such as barangay halls,
health and day care centers, class rooms, sea walls, rainwater
catchments, foot bridges, community halls, as well as the installation
of water filtration systems. This project, which is co-funded by German Bank Foundation (GBS) and Johanniter reaches 7,000 direct and 1,500 indirect beneficiaries.
In the immediate aftermath of the typhoon, Malteser International
from Germany distributed food, hygiene kits, water containers and
relief items to about 9,000 families. A water treatment unit provided
clean drinking water to an entire village. To date, 250 houses have been
repaired, 52 large tents were set up as classrooms and play areas, and
800 families received tarpaulins. Malteser International distributed
school materials to almost 2,500 school children as well as tools for
cleanup and farming tools to the villagers. Over the past year, Malteser
International, in partnership with the Philippine Association of the
Order of Malta initiated a relief and recovery program with 4
communities on Samar and Bantayan Island affected by Typhoon
Yolanda. Its comprehensive program seeks to assist vulnerable families
and communities to recover after the disaster, through disaster
resistant and inclusive housing reconstruction, school rehabilitation,
water systems repairs, targeted home improvements, youth training, and
small livelihood activities. 200 shelters have been provided with 500
more to be constructed. Malteser International will also seek to
strengthen local knowledge about safe construction. Young adults will
receive training in carpentry and masonry as well as disaster relief
actions as part of a program in cooperation with a local vocational
training agency.
Plan International has
received support from the German Federal Foreign Office for activities
that aim to strengthen climate resiliency of the local population in the
rehabilitation efforts.
Green Skills Training participants showing their output for the day (Day 2) - solar dryer and Liquid fertilizer, mouldings
(© Plan International)
As part of the program, communities receive trainings in green
technology such as the construction and use of solar dryers that can cut
the drying time for fish or other food in half, retained heat cookers,
organic fertilizers and char making stoves using debris fuel instead of
cutting mangroves. These sustainable green technologies utilize
indigenous materials and enable a more efficient use of natural
resources or debris. Energy costs are reduced and waste management is
improved.
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