Tacloban – A Year After Typhoon Haiyan

Since the onslaught of Haiyan, UNICEF has partnered with different Local Government Organizations. “So much can be done in the local level, Empowering the Local Government Unit to prepare better and allowing them to be good examples and to share best practices to others,” said Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Representative in the Philippines.

One project they have is in the IPI Bunkhouse.

The City Government of Tacloban and IPI agreed that the land where the bunkhouse was built will serve as a temporary shelter site until the end of 2014 when they will then be transferred to permanent homes in the Northern part of the city by the National Housing Authority.

 

 

The area has 27 bunkhouses or 480 units. Some families or relatives share a room, most of them having been dislocated from Barangay 88, 31 and 31-A, all of which are declared as no-build zones.

UNICEF supports the bunkhouse through WASH and Child Protection Programs with both government and Non-Government Organizations. They build toilets, showers and washing areas and conduct regular sanitation and hygiene seminars for different families.

 

 

One of the Child Protection Program’s effort is the CFS or Child Friendly Spaces. These are play or interactive sessions that are headed by volunteers in the bunkhouse area. The volunteers are screened and trained by the UNICEF on how to handle children and on what to do if there are any reports of child abuse.

 

 

There are two sessions in this tent – one in the morning and another in the afternoon. I got the chance to talk to the mothers who volunteer in IPI Bunkhouse’s CFS. These mothers are from different areas of Tacloban before the typhoon happened, but they have bonded over the year of staying in the bunkhouse.

After visiting the bunkhouse, we went to Robinson’s Tacloban for the launch of the EYE SEE Photo Exhibition.

 

 

“Through the Eyes of Children – Stories of Hope and Resilience in Tacloban” features images of young photographers on how families are recovering and rebuilding their lives after the typhoon as part of the EYE SEE project with Sony Corporation Philippines.

“Sony shares the same belief as UNICEF in the significance of children in shaping the next generation, and trust the power of imaging to provide the creative expression and inspiration for them to do so” said Mr. Nobuyoshi Otake, President & Managing Director of Sony Philppines. ” EYE SEE not only gives them a voice, but more importantly also gives them a platform to share their stories of tenacity and hope with the rest of the world,” he added.

 

The children went through a week of photography workshops and was provided with one camera each.

 

The photos will be on display at Robinsons Place Tacloban until January 15, 2015 and on November 20 at SMX SM Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia. You can view some of the children’s best photos below:

 

      

       

       

     

      

 

Staying in Tacloban and hearing the survival stories of the Taclobanons was heart-breaking and amazing. They have the resilience that we can never imagine, giving light to all of the other Filipinos all around the world.

 

 

UNICEF

 

Website: www.unicef.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unicefphilippines

Twitter/Instagram: @unicefphils

 

 

 

Tacloban – A Year After Typhoon Haiyan