Volunteers repack relief goods at the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Manila on Nov. 9, 2013, for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda. Donations to the DSWD for the relief and rehabilitation Yolanda survivors from local and foreign sources stands at P817,262,574 as of March 9, 2014, according to the DSWD Updates on Typhoon Yolanda Disaster Relief and Early Rehabilitation Accomplishments and Continuing Plans. AFP
Donations to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the relief and rehabilitation of Super Typhoon Yolanda survivors from local and foreign sources stands at P817,262,574.
Foreign donations totaled $18,364,194.04 (P734,567,761.60) and local donations P82,694,812.56 as of March 4, according to the DSWD Updates on Typhoon Yolanda Disaster Relief and Early Rehabilitation Accomplishments and Continuing Plans.
The contribution from US Agency for International Development (USAID) of $87,735,775 was coursed through different nongovernment organizations—Action Against Hunger, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, Catholic Relief Services, Handicap International, International Organization for Migration, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, Oxfam, Plan International, United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and World Food Program, among others.
Australian aid of A$40 million was coursed through Unicef, World Health Organization and local NGOs.
UKAID from the Department for International Development was P85.6 million and was coursed through World Food Program, Spanish NGOs, Red Cross, Save the Children-Spain and Oxfam.
Worst storm in history
The DSWD said a total of 1,472,251 families were affected, with 918,261 of them displaced, while 1,012,790 houses were damaged in the worst storm in history.
The number of evacuation centers in Tacloban City is down to 892 and continue to provide shelter to 892 families.
Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said the DSWD continued to provide aid, relief, temporary shelter and early recovery programs to the storm survivors.
Other government agencies also continue to help the victims.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is assessing needs and damage at all levels; the Office of Civil Defense continues to assess, map and monitor damage, losses and needs; the Department of Public Works and Highways, infrastructure systems; Metro Manila Development Authority, cleanup: Department of Health, basic social and psychological services; Department of Energy, electricity; and Department of Labor and Employment/TESDA, emergency employment.
Total payout for cash-for-work beneficiaries from November 2013 to Feb. 3 was P22,407,011.
Soliman said proposals worth P417,963,328 were expected to benefit 162,641 individuals from 1,306 barangays.—Cynthia D. Balana