Three people clung to a tree, literally hanging on for their lives as 300kph winds tore at their clothes, pelting them with flying debris and rain. They watched helplessly as others who had no anchor were blown away by the winds. That’s how John described the agonizing scene in front of his house as Typhoon ...
With relief activities beginning to wind down in the Philippines after Super Typhoon Haiyan, the focus is now shifting on providing longer-term recovery support to build back their lives better and reduce reliance on emergency aid.
Violeta Ofianga is a 66-year-old widow who lost almost everything she had to Typhoon Haiyan on Friday 8th November 2013.
When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November, ten-year-old Honeyrea was taking shelter in a gymnasium on Leyte island, along with her family and other members of the community. It was an experience she will never forget.
Caritas member Catholic Relief Services is providing clean water and sanitation for more than 100,000 people around Palo.
In total, Caritas Switzerland is supporting 9,000 families on Bantayan and neighbouring islands – some of them only reachable by small fishing boats.
In Palo, the diocesan driver told us how he huddled together with his family at the height of the storm as their roof was blown away and watched in fear as three big waves came in succession towards their village
One month since Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, Caritas organisations have been providing aid to affected communities.
Challenges abound: blocked and damaged roads; the airport in Tacloban has been reduced to a shell but crammed full of local flights airlines and the heavy-lift C130 defence aircraft from around the world.
“I didn't want to leave my parishioners. But when the roof of my house was blown away and the wind shattered the windows, I had to get away,” said Fr Jose Taz Lasola from the Padre Pio mission in Roxas, on the island of Panay, one of the areas most seriously affected by the violent Typhoon Haiyan.