Immediately after the extent of the damage was known,
the IsraAID
humanitarian NGO sent a team of seven medical
professionals to storm-ravaged Philippines to aid the people struck by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).
IsraAID's
current team of 12 medical and psychosocial professionals in Ormoc,
Philippines have been celebrating the Hanukah holiday with partners and
colleagues from around the world including the US, Germany, France,
Australia and of course the Philippines. The holiday has brought light
(both figuratively and literally) to the island that still suffers from
electricity and power outages since the typhoon.
At the same
time, the team has made strong headway in its medical, psychosocial and
livelihood projects, and further cemented IsraAID as one of the leading
organizations with an integrated model for the rehabilitation and
recovery of Ormoc and its surrounding municipalities.
Physical health
A
new IsraAID team on the ground is working closely with American, German
and Filipino doctors, equipped with a new batch of medicine and medical
equipment. IsraAID remains active in the Ipil district, and the total
number of patients treated to date has risen to well over 1,500. In
keeping with the community based approach, 1-2 day mobile clinics are
conducted in each of the neighborhoods in the district.
In
addition, as other organizations begin to pull out, IsraAID has been
called upon by the Department of Health to both adopt another district
of over 45,000 people (the largest in the city), and support the main
city health center which is losing its international medical backing. At
the request of the UN and the US government liaison, IsraAID is also
providing health services in two villages outside the city.
Treating children in typhoon-struck Philippines (Photo: IsraAID)
Mental health
Due to recent
reports of increasing numbers of cases of depression, anxiety, and other
related mental health symptoms, IsraAID has begun to offer resilience
training to 50 volunteers (mostly daycare workers, social workers, and
teachers). These volunteers are responsible for running psychosocial
activities with children in the 29 evacuation centers serving over 1,080
homeless households within the city. In addition, IsraAID professionals
are now developing a long-term training and mentoring program, with the
goal of expanding to the five other major areas, including Tacloban and
Palo.
Following a request from the city departments of health
and education, IsraAID has begun training programs for key members of
the 1,544 teachers in Ormoc city. This training is crucial for the
long-term psychosocial health of the children, and the prevention of
trauma-related issues. As a result of all these developments, IsraAID
has been invited by the city to take the lead on psychosocial/trauma
programs, and to present its findings, methodology and curriculum to the
international and national organizations working in the municipality.
Recent
assessments on the ground have revealed a growing number of reports of
domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence since the
crisis destroyed families and livelihoods. In response, IsraAID aims to
further investigate the situation and build a task force in cooperation
with both the department of social welfare and the PNP (Philippines
National Police) Women's Desk to address the situation.
IsraAID's Psycho Social Intervention in Ormoc, Philippines (Photo: IsraAID)
Rehabilitation and livelihoods
While
the immediate emergency needs are being addressed, IsraAID is working
with several key partners on the rehabilitation of educational
infrastructures and livelihood initiatives.
Accompanied by the
departments of education and engineering, IsraAID visited both the Ipil
National High School and the adjacent Ipil Central Elementary School to
assess typhoon-related damages. The team worked in close coordination
with the Australian Army (flanked by Australian Aid) to clear the debris
and build make-shift shelters before schools reopen in early December.
Our
team has also been compiling information on the state of the fishing
community of Macabug and have thus far identified potential households
as well as four major municipal programs for support with rehabilitation
and enhancement of the livelihood using Israeli innovation and
know-how