Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA)
Mindanao Humanitarian Action Network Against Disasters (MiHANDs)
Title The Wrath of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit)
Summary
• On November 8, 2013 the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) smashed the Visayas region resulted to severe damaged of properties, livelihoods and loss of thousands lives. The unexpected impact of the catastrophe awakens the entire world about the levels of readiness of the disaster risk reduction and management players and awareness of the communities as front liners and first responders.
• Year after, another typhoon strike the same areas on December 6, 2014 while disaster survivors of the previous Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) were on the stage of on-going recovery not only for their dwellings, properties, livelihoods but mostly on psychological effects.
• On December 5, 2014 a force evacuation have declared by government authorities especially those families living in the low lying areas, light materials houses. The families were placed in government’s declared evacuation centers primarily schools and churches buildings. Others were preferred to seek refuge with their relatives in other areas which houses made of strong materials.
• The MiHANDs personnel which currently based in Ormoc City who are implementing the on-going early recovery and rehabilitation project to four (4) stricken communities of the super typhoon in 2013 have established line of communications to monitor the currently served communities of Bangkal, Villaba, Leyte, Lat-osan, Palompon, Leyte, Don Potenciano Larrazabal, Ormoc City and Tambulilid, Ormoc City.
• On December 6, 2014 information from the four (4) communities gathered by the MiHANDs which stipulated as follows;
– Pre-emptive evacuation have [been] declared by the government authority and implemented by the Barangay Officials;
The 205 families or 806 individuals of Brgy. Don Potenciano Larrazabal, Ormoc City were evacuated in government’s declared evacuation centers neighboring communities;
– The 132 families or 470 individuals of Brgy. Bangkal, Villaba, Leyte took refuge to concrete and elevated houses in the community
– The 404 families or 1,514 individuals stayed in their communities but families living in high risk areas for flooding and land slide took refuge in the strong houses in the neighborhood
– In Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc City only the 70 families living in the most flooded areas were evacuated in designated evacuations centers
• Local Government Units (LGUs) have initially provided food to the evacuees utilizing the very minimal funds. However, during the actual monitoring of the MiHANDs team of the four (4) communities, there were no exact food assistance from responsible government line agencies and the immediate needs of the people upon return to their places are food and drinking water.
• There were no casualty in the aforesaid communities few houses were severely damaged especially those built using light materials.
• On the same day (December 6, 2014) the evacuees started to return home with worries where they will get food because they did not work for 3 days.
Background
• The Brgy. Bangkal is located in coastal area of Villaba, Leyte. Brgy. Lat-osan is located in mountainous areas of Palompon, Leyte, Don Potenciano Larrazabal is located in plain and in between two major rivers of Ormoc City and Brgy. Tambulilid is located in slum and flooded areas of ormoc City.
• The above stipulated communities served by MiHANDs was among the less-served and high rates of poverty index. The usual source of living of the people mainly depends on farm workers, farming, hacienda workers, small scale fishing, vendors, public utility drivers and other small scale income generation.
• After the super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) the economic difficulties of the residents have worsen due to damages of the source of living parallel with striving to rebuild their houses in fact, others have engaged into lending for the sake of having money to buy repair materials for their shelter.
• Although, the people were aware and took refuge to safe places upon arrival of typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) but, the main problem after the typhoon was the daily survival for their food.
Figures and Statistics (Demographics)
• Target Number of Barangays: Four (4)
• Target numbers of recipients: 812 families or 3,070 individuals
– Brgy. Bangkal, Villaba, Leyte – 132 families or 470 individuals
– Brgy. Don Potenciano Larrazabal, Ormoc City – 206 families or 806 individuals
– Brgy. Lat-osan, Palompon, Leyte – 404 families or 1,514 individuals
– Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc City – 70 families 280 individuals
Methodology
• MiHANDs personnel stationed in Ormoc City have conducted emergency meeting and set-up line of communication to the communities
• Conducted constant follow-up thru communication to the communities regarding their status
• The communities have provided regular updates to MiHANDs Office about their situation which started a day prior the arrival of the typhoon
• Right after the disaster, MiHANDs have conducted transect monitoring to the four (4) communities and other neighboring areas
• Conducted on-site discussion with community leaders and gathered immediate needs of the residents
General Situation
• The residents which evacuated have already return to their homes and started to make repairs of their houses. The common problem was the daily food sustenance because they did not do their respective income generating activities since they were evacuated.
• The primary or immediate needs of the residents were food assistance with drinking water because their source of drinking water was destroyed by floods.
• Some of them have received 2 kilos rice and canned goods upon arrival in the designated evacuation center but no more food were provided until they return home.
Recommendations/Proposed Actions
• Address the immediate needs of the evacuees such as food packs, drinking water, sleeping kits (mats and pillows), water containers, sanitary toilets and hygiene kits;
• Address the Psychosocial needs for children, women and men typhoon survivors