Tens
of thousands of people in the Philippines and Vietnam are spending
the holidays in temporary shelters, following a series of deadly
typhoons over the past few months, which caused major destruction
in South East Asia.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
is appealing for emergency funds to assist vulnerable storm
survivors in both countries.
In Vietnam, around 200,000 homes were damaged when Typhoon Durian
slammed into the Mekong Delta in early December. Meanwhile,
Durian damaged more than 300,000 homes in the Philippines, while
Typhoon Utor, which struck the country on 10 December, destroyed
another 10,000 houses.
An estimated 120,000 people are still living in evacuation centers
in the Philippines’ hard-hit region of Albay, including
the Martos family – just one of around a hundred families
who will ring in 2007 in the converted classrooms of a local
college they now call home.
Heartbreak
On any other day, the sight of 38-year-old Danilo Martos standing
next to his 11-year-old son, Marlon, on the college’s
balcony would make a nice picture for a holiday greeting card.
But their resolute expressions reveal the heartbreak they’ve
experienced in recent months.
Attracted by the fertile farm land that nurtures profitable
crops like coconut, rice and corn, the Martos family moved to
one of the many communities that the dot the perimeter of the
active volcano, known as Mount Mayon, several years ago.
Originally from Quezon, Danilo and his 33-year-old wife, Daisy,
followed his brother to the village of Legaspi in search of
a better of life.
Typhoons and heavy rains – even the threat of the volcano’s
eruption – are common occurrences in this part of the
Philippines and like most families in Albay, the Martos have
learned to live with the wrath of Mother Nature. But 2006 was
unprecedented, according to Danilo.
When Typhoon Xangsane, known locally as “Milenyo”
struck at the end of September, residents thought they had seen
the worst of what the storm season had to offer. But the rain
kept falling and then, two months later, Durian hit the country
with such a force, it caught many people off-guard.
Marlon was forced to fight for his life when Durian hit, clinging
to the roof of a building for three days as the flood waters
raged around him. The Martos’ home, plot of land, their
prized pig and Danilo’s three-wheeled tuk-tuk were completely
destroyed by the mud and rocks that slid down the side of Mount
Mayon.
The tuk-tuk was the family’s only source of income, bringing
in around 500 pesos, or about six dollars, a day, which Danilo
used to support nine people.
With no savings to start over and in a country where the poor
struggle to find housing even during the best of times, Danilo
says his family is now in dire straits.
Camped in a corner of the classroom, they are protected from
further storms but they also feel trapped, with no where else
to go.
Poor prospects
Like many other countries in South East and East Asia, which
have experienced impressive economic growth in recent years,
the Philippines is a country of financial contrasts.
People who can afford it generally live in solid two-level houses,
capable of withstanding typhoons and floods. But with over one
third of the population living in abject poverty, safe housing
is not an option for families like the Martos, who tend to reside
in single-story, light-framed homes made out of basic materials,
such as locally-grown nipa lives and sheets of galvanized iron.
“The 2006 storm season has not only destroyed hundreds
of thousands of homes, but it has also depleted available building
materials,” says Roger Bracke, the International Federation’s
head of delegation in the Philippines. “Thousands of nipa
plants have been destroyed, which means there are less leaves
for roofing and the high demand for iron sheets means and rising
construction prices puts the option of rebuilding even further
out of reach for people like Danilo.”
As part of its emergency appeal for the Philippines, the International
Federation plans to support the Philippine National Red Cross
in assisting 15,000 families in rebuilding safer homes in 2007.
This includes the provision of construction materials and tools.
Funds are also sought to help vulnerable people in a similar
situation in Vietnam.
“Recovery has to go beyond repair and must work towards
instilling a better understanding of safe building techniques
in vulnerable communities,” explains Bracke. “That’s
why the Red Cross is working with communities and local officials
to identify safe places to rebuild, allowing families to really
put down roots, instead of constantly running to catch up.”
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Daisy
Martos points to the place where her family's home used
to be. Daisy and Danilo Martos (in the right) stand on
a balcony of their temporary shelter, which overlooks
the site where their village once stood. (p15280)
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Houses
made out of bricks and cement were able to stand up to
the recent floods and mudslides, but many families were
not so lucky. (p15283)
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For
poor families in the Philippines, sturdy and reliable
housing is a luxury they can't afford. (p15281)
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