Building a new home after Typhoon Chanchu
Samar
province, Philippines - On the 12th May, Typhoon Chanchu
hit Philippine, causing damage to many houses and economical
crops such as banana and other fruit trees. After it was safe
to travel via air and ferries, local evaluation and relief
team of Taiwan Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
(Tzu Chi) visited the worst-hit Samar province to survey the
affected area on the 19th May and provided supports
to the victims.
Located
on the eastern side of Philippine, the Samar province was
directly hit by the Typhoon. Tzu Chi relief team surveyed
the damages in the neighbourhoods in two remote towns of Allen
and Lao-ang.
In Allen, Tzu Chi provided 1,000 pesos
benefaction to local families whose houses were completely
destroyed. The local authority expressed that, for these residents
who are rebuilding their homes, Tzu Chi has not only assist
the reconstruction but also improved their lives.
In Lao-ang, a town spread across three
islands, 24 barangays (neighbourhoods) that are Pacific facing
were greatly damaged by the Typhoon. Tzu Chi visited four
neighbourhoods in Lao-ang: Barangay Little Venice, Barangay
Baybay, Barangay Tumaguingting and Barangay Sto Nino.
A
family of five in Barangay Sto Nino, with a daily income of
only 100 pesos (US$ 1.89), was helpless when their 12 m2 house
was completely destroyed by Typhoon Chanchu, leaving the pregnant
wife, her husband and two children with only four coco tree
trunks and thatch debris. Upon receiving benefaction of 2,000
pesos from the Tzu Chi volunteers, they expressed their deep
gratitude as it will be enough to buy reconstruction materials.
Built
with nipa shield roof (type of thatch) and coco lumber, the
interior of the local houses averaged around 16 m2. Each nipa
shields measure 100 cm long and 46 cm across, with each house
requiring about 400 to 500 nipa shields. Moderate to strong
winds could easily cause damages to these houses.
The local authority of Lao-ang has also
put in great relief efforts: 10,000 nipa shields were provided
to the victims, but due to the limited resources, each family
could only receive 25 pieces. Families with completely destroyed
houses also received compensation of 1,000 pesos from the
authority.
In total, Tzu Chi relief team provided
1,000 pesos benefaction to 21 families in Allen who lost their
homes. In Lao-ang 29 families received 2,000 pesos: eights
in Barangay Little Venice, three in Barangay Baybay, four
in Barangay Tumaguingting and fourteen in Barangay Sto Nino
with one additional family receiving 1,000 pesos for partially
damaged house.
ReliefWeb
Link: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6Q27S4?OpenDocument&rc=3&cc=phl
