2011 tropical storm 'Washi', Philippines
Philippines: CBM’s response to tropical storm Washi
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© CBM
52,435 houses were destroyed by tropical storm Washi, which killed more than 1,200 people and injured 6,000
February 2012. Tropical storm Washi hit the southern Philippines between 16 and 18 December 2011, causing tremendous damage. More than 1,200 died and over 6,000 were injured. Overall, 1.1 million were affected, including tens of thousands of persons with disabilities. For the latter, access to appropriate aid remains incredibly difficult in this type of disaster situations.
What has become of persons with disabilities after the storm?
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©CBM
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This elderly man sits in the remains of his home in Tibasak, an area close to the river in Cagayan de Oro, which was among the first and worst hit by the floods. There, about 1,000 concrete houses have been completely flattened
As soon as 19 December, CBM partners Philippine Service of Mercy Foundation, Inc. (PSMFI) and German Doctors for Developing Countries were on the ground to assess the situation and provide support to persons with disabilities. The fate of persons with disabilities during and after the storm was the cause of much concern; one of the priorities was to locate them.
In the first four days after the storm, only 120 persons with disabilities could be located, in evacuation centres where approximately 20,000 people had found shelter. Over the next month, there has been regular progress in the identification by CBM partners of persons with disabilities living in the affected barangays (villages). A list of 2,312 of them had been established as of 29 January.
The vast majority of these persons with disabilities are outside evacuation centres, thus isolated from the major relief activities. Why? In general, displaced persons with disabilities were isolated and marginalised even at the evacuation centres. They had scarce access to basic necessities and hygiene, they were pushed aside by the crowds, they were too nervous or too weak to queue... Many preferred going back to their damaged neighbourhoods, even if this meant being excluded from the main distributions of relief goods.
In the first four days after the storm, only 120 persons with disabilities could be located, in evacuation centres where approximately 20,000 people had found shelter. Over the next month, there has been regular progress in the identification by CBM partners of persons with disabilities living in the affected barangays (villages). A list of 2,312 of them had been established as of 29 January.
The vast majority of these persons with disabilities are outside evacuation centres, thus isolated from the major relief activities. Why? In general, displaced persons with disabilities were isolated and marginalised even at the evacuation centres. They had scarce access to basic necessities and hygiene, they were pushed aside by the crowds, they were too nervous or too weak to queue... Many preferred going back to their damaged neighbourhoods, even if this meant being excluded from the main distributions of relief goods.
Rolando: standing up for one’s rights
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©CBM
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Rolando Damaolao, executive director of the BLIND association, was pushed away from relief distribution lines
Rolando, 40, is a visually impaired massage therapist, married with four children. On the night the storm hit he should have been guided away to safer ground, but he did not want to be separated from his family. The whole family sought refuge on the rooftop of their house, where they were joined by two young girls they rescued from the floods. After the waters receded, Rolando went to relief distribution sites where he was mistreated and pushed away off the lines.
Rolando is the executive director of BLIND, an organisation part of the Cagayan de Oro Federation of Persons with Disabilities’ Associations (CaFeDPA). In this capacity, he lobbied local authorities and the various relief coordination bodies for a better inclusion of persons with disabilities in the relief activities. A remarkable result of his and his CaFeDPA colleagues’ action was when on 16 January the mayor of Cagayan de Oro City issued an ‘order with immediate effect’ instructing that Disability Desks be established in every evacuation centre of the city. These Disability Desks are meant to not only provide help to persons with disabilities but also to increase awareness on disability issues and inclusive society.
Rolando is the executive director of BLIND, an organisation part of the Cagayan de Oro Federation of Persons with Disabilities’ Associations (CaFeDPA). In this capacity, he lobbied local authorities and the various relief coordination bodies for a better inclusion of persons with disabilities in the relief activities. A remarkable result of his and his CaFeDPA colleagues’ action was when on 16 January the mayor of Cagayan de Oro City issued an ‘order with immediate effect’ instructing that Disability Desks be established in every evacuation centre of the city. These Disability Desks are meant to not only provide help to persons with disabilities but also to increase awareness on disability issues and inclusive society.
Meeting the specific needs of persons with disabilities
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©CBM
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Content of one of the relief packs distributed to persons with disabilities and their families
Rolando lost his house and all his belongings. He has received assistance in the form of food, water, clothes and household equipments from PSMFI and other relief organisations. CBM and its partners have distributed essential relief items such as food, water, water containers, clothing, blankets, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, kitchen utensils and hygiene kits to 300 persons with disabilities and their families. They will soon provide disability-related devices like white canes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs. A volunteer mobilisation scheme is also about to be set up to clean up the homes of persons with disabilities and to provide personal assistance when needed.
There is still an urgent need for ‘priority lanes’ for vulnerable persons in the distribution of relief items and in health check-ups, as well as accessible toilets. Lack of hygiene and sanitation is a concern for all, especially since an outbreak of leptospirosis, a severe bacterial infection, has been reported in evacuation centres since the beginning of January. For some persons with disabilities, relatively benign health conditions can become life threatening under such precarious living circumstances.
As a next step, persons with disabilities will have to be given particular attention in the prioritisation of population to be relocated in newly constructed sites, making sure that appropriate measures and minimum accessibility standards are in place before process begins.
There is still an urgent need for ‘priority lanes’ for vulnerable persons in the distribution of relief items and in health check-ups, as well as accessible toilets. Lack of hygiene and sanitation is a concern for all, especially since an outbreak of leptospirosis, a severe bacterial infection, has been reported in evacuation centres since the beginning of January. For some persons with disabilities, relatively benign health conditions can become life threatening under such precarious living circumstances.
As a next step, persons with disabilities will have to be given particular attention in the prioritisation of population to be relocated in newly constructed sites, making sure that appropriate measures and minimum accessibility standards are in place before process begins.
Massive needs of psychosocial support
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©CBM
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Crispina has lost some of her closest friends during the storm. Mobility impaired like her, they were left behind and drowned in the floods
Crispina, 70, suffered a stroke two years ago that left her with disturbed gait. Flash floods forced her to flee away. As she could not walk, she was carried by her son to higher grounds. She lost her house and belongings, as well as all her medications. She suffers from post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), especially because some of her closest friends in the same physical condition as her were left behind during the evacuation and drowned. She fears that floods might happen again and that she might die too this time. Rolando also suffers PTSD and does not want to return to the area where he used to live.
Crispina and Rolando are just two examples of a very considerable problem faced by the population affected by Washi. CBM’s team met with dozens of people who had terribly sad stories to tell and who badly need psychosocial support. According to the United Nations, 7,000 adults and 15,000 children have already been provided with psychosocial support in January. The need is here for long and CBM has deployed a mental health assessment mission, with a view to strengthening the local capacities in coping with this issue.
Crispina and Rolando are just two examples of a very considerable problem faced by the population affected by Washi. CBM’s team met with dozens of people who had terribly sad stories to tell and who badly need psychosocial support. According to the United Nations, 7,000 adults and 15,000 children have already been provided with psychosocial support in January. The need is here for long and CBM has deployed a mental health assessment mission, with a view to strengthening the local capacities in coping with this issue.
