SUMMARY
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After Yolanda, the Philippines is running out of safe and usable evacuation centers for future emergencies
Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) ravaged the Visayas, the lack of adequate housing still remains one of the biggest challenges faced by over 200,000 Yolanda survivors and, most likely, by soon-to-be survivors of future calamities.
This problem is further intensified by the lack of reliable evacuation centers (ECs).
According to a joint assessment by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), only 8% (53 out of 634) of the evacuation centers in the 10 most affected municipalities in Samar Island is usable in case a new typhoon strikes.
Over 400 ECs were substantially damaged and unusable because of Yolanda, while 166 ECs were completely destroyed as of April 2014.
Where would people go when the next typhoon strikes?
“As witnessed by the smaller typhoons of early 2014, the number of people needing to evacuate to public shelters has dramatically increased compared to before Haiyan, but at the same time the vast majority of those shelters are no longer usable,” DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said in a press statement.
As new typhoons will soon threaten the country, Filipinos might carry the same burdens left by Yolanda. Without proper intervention, families – especially those in coastal areas – may once again lose their loved ones, homes, possessions, and the chance to live normal lives. (READ: A Haiyan widow)
Survivors’ health may also suffer since many ECs are overcrowded and hence, become breeding grounds for spreading diseases under unsanitary conditions. (READ: Organize for survival)
And as climate change continues to threaten us – not only our environment, but also our food security, economy, livelihood, health and safety – there is a greater need to improve our disaster preparedness and response. (READ: Next steps on climate change)
Evacuation centers
The IOM advised the Philippine government to “begin immediate construction or rehabilitation of safe evacuation centers,” especially in the most “typhoon-vulnerable” parts of the country. (READ: Yolanda survivors still in tents)
Most of the designated ECs in Eastern Samar are social infrastructures like schools, day care centers, municipal or barangay halls, multi-purpose halls, churches and health centers. Private residences also make up 1% of all designated ECs.
Most, if not all, of them are now in bad shape. (READ: Require construction of evacuation centers)
“The government, IOM and some other actors are rehabilitating and reconstructing some of these buildings, but the scale and speed of this work needs to increase dramatically,” Soliman said.
The municipality of Salcedo had the most number of designated ECs, but Guiuan had the most number of evacuees per center even though it had the least number of ECs.
IOM described the damages to ECs as “catastrophic,” and pointed the following factors which contributed to the collapse of many ECS and in turn, numerous deaths:
MANILA, Philippines – Almost 6 months after
Municipality |
Number of designated ECs |
Average number of persons per designated EC |
Salcedo |
118 |
169 |
Guiuan |
32 |
1,470 |
- Substandard construction
- Extreme winds, storm surge
- Design flaws: structures were not designed withstand such wind loads
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