Habitat for Humanity distributes shelter repair kits on Bantayan Island

A family taking cover from the heat of the sun after Typhoon Yolanda destroyed their homes.

MANILA, Philippines—For two days, the headlines were filled with news of the impending storm. Then on November 8, Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name “Haiyan”) slammed into the Philippines. The next day, November 9, the world woke up to a new morning—and to a devastation so severe that international aid was needed.

Two weeks later, Filipinos are still reeling from the destruction Typhoon Yolanda caused. Reported to be the strongest storm the world has seen this year, about 10 million people have been affected. Of these, nearly one million families or 4.4 million individuals were left homeless, living in evacuation centers, near the rubble that was once their home, or seeking refuge from friends or relatives.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports that more than 700,000 houses were damaged, with a death toll of 4,000 people.