AHAH Monthly Program Update - Philippines Typhoon Relief (April 2022)

PHILIPPINES TYPHOON RELIEF UPDATE APRIL 2022

TOTAL IMPACT 32

LIVES IMPACTED 2,467 VOLUNTEER DAYS VOLUNTEERS

11

LIVES IMPACTED VOLUNTEER DAYS

2

BOATSJOBS REPAIRED COMPLETED

SCHOOL IN PROGRESS 196 mucking Photos: (Top) Volunteers VOLUNTEER HOURS and gutting a home; (Left) Tree removal

Current Activities On the northeastern tip of the Filipino island of Dumaran lies the Araceli municipality. Beginning with the two most impacted communities within Araceli, AHAH is working with local fishers to repair their boats - and with the boats, their livelihoods. We will be rebuilding and repairing at least 50 wooden boats called “bangkas” over the next three months, meaning fishers can get back on the water in time for their primary fishing season.

Our response program began in late March 2022 and will run for three months. The program will involve conducting partial and full boat repairs damaged by Typhoon Rai (Odette), utilizing community volunteers. A core team, including a fully Filipina female management team, are on the ground, purchasing the delivery of necessary tools and materials, organizing the work queue based on the assessments and coordinating the volunteers to work under the “bayanihan” model (community members working together), whilst simultaneously working with partners to identify additional capacity building opportunities in the communities.

Support for Filipino Fishers Fishing is extremely important in the lives of Filipinos. With the fifth largest coastline in the world and 80% of the population living in coastal areas, the Philippines is home to 1.9 million small-scale fishers. Despite the significance of fishing throughout these islands, fishers are among the poorest and most marginalized in the country. These fishers and their families rely on bangkas for their food and incomes.

Photos: (Top) DART members performing assessments on a bangka; (Left) DART members working with local communities

Disaster Profile Super Typhoon Rai (known locally as Odette) made its first of nine landfalls on December 16, 2021, in the Central-Southern region of the Philippines causing severe rainfall, flooding, and mudslides. Rapidly intensifying over a 24 hour period, it had maximum sustained winds of 195 km/hr and was the strongest storm of 2021 to affect the country.

The super typhoon affected 9.9 million people, took more than 400 lives, and left 2.4 million in need of assistance across all sectors, primarily with food, shelter and livelihoods. There was significant damage to infrastructure, schools, community structures and farms; 1.7 million homes were damaged, 415 thousand homes were destroyed, and according to recent reports in some areas 80% of coconut trees were uprooted entirely, whereas they often sway and remain standing in typhoon force winds. National response and recovery efforts were delayed due to the increased spread of COVID-19, with travel limitations being imposed in and within The Philippines.

Our Work Due to travel restrictions, AHAH Disaster Assessment Response Team (DART) monitored the impacts of Super Typhoon Rai remotely. On February 10, 2022, the borders were opened and DART began ground assessments identifying the most vulnerable communities to support.

Upon arrival, the team quickly began meeting with local organizations that were working in the area and connecting with communities to identify where help was needed the most.

Within days, our team identified the island of Palawan and specifically the island municipalities of Dumaran and Araceli as communities in the most need. Specifically, they identified in every community it has been the fishers that are the ones hardest hit.

About All Hands and Hearts We effectively and efficiently address the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. We communicate directly with local leaders and community members and then deploy our unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, helping to build safer, more resilient schools, homes and infrastructure.

Photos: (Top) Team member repairing a “bangka”; (middle) Rows of “bangkas; (bottom) DART handing over to program staff team

We have earned a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator for the eighth year in a row. This year only percent ofarated nonprofits distinction for financial We six have earned 4-star rating byreceived Charity this Navigator for the seventh and yearoperational in a row. This year only efficiency. seven percent of rated nonprofits received this distinction for financial and operational efficiency.

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