Media CenterPhilippines Typhoon Haiyan Response

CRS is helping families with individual approaches to transitional shelter. For some, this means cash grants to repair or rebuild homes. Others receive shelters designed by CRS staff to meet the needs of their location. Photo by Jennifer Hardy/CRS

You are here

Typhoon Haiyan Recovery

On November 8, 2013, Super-typhoon Haiyan, one of the largest Category 5 storms every recorded in the Philippines, made landfall. Haiyan devastated over half of the 81 provinces in the Philippines, destroying roads, airports, ports, markets, health facilities, telecommunications, water supplies and homes. More than 12 million people were affected, of which 4 million were displaced and more than 6,200 killed.

CRS has been responding to the crisis both at national and provincial levels since November 2013. With Philippines Caritas, we’ve provided essential and comprehensive relief to Haiyan victims in the areas of shelter, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), livelihoods and disaster risk reduction.

CRS Response

Our goal is to support more than 100,000 families in Leyte and Eastern Samar in rebuilding their lives and communities over the next five years. The strategy focuses on moving from recovery to development and is based on four main pillars:

  • Household infrastructure
  • Livelihoods for the most vulnerable
  • Community disaster risk reduction and
  • Partnerships

“Build back safer” techniques will be integrated into shelter and sanitation support, including household hygiene promotion. CRS will also assist families with strategies for growing livelihoods and long-term income.

Rebekah Kates Lemke

Writer/Editor

Rebekah Kates Lemke
August 4, 2015

Rebekah Kates Lemke is the senior content developer/strategist for Catholic Relief Services. Previously, she was a web producer, branded content writer and editor for CRS and worked in television news for 15 years. She is based in Baltimore, Maryland.More