Red Cross on ‘Yolanda’ work: Mission 96% accomplished

Protests over the non-release of shelter assistance for survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” have plagued the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. Survivors are hoping their problem would be addressed by the government, under President Duterte’s leadership. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Philippine Red Cross reported on Wednesday it had helped around 76,000 families affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda rebuild their homes and start anew.

“So far, we have accomplished 96 percent of our target number of houses to be built, and we are fast-tracking the completion of the remaining shelters for Yolanda survivors,” said PRC Chair Senator Richard Gordon.

Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan), one of the strongest typhoons to hit the country, left at least 6,300 people dead and affected around 16 million other people mostly in central Philippines.

Citing a three-year report on its Typhoon Haiyan Recovery Operations, Gordon said the Red Cross had built 76,461 houses with red roofs and latrines worth P3.7 billion, trained 3,833 carpenters and craftsmen for safe shelter construction; and helped 62, 670 families with livelihood assistance and cash grants worth P752 million.  Around 9010 households received P313 million worth of shelter assistance.