WFP early recovery projects provide crucial support to communities devastated by 2021 Typhoon Odette
MANILA – Following an intensive emergency response, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched early recovery support for communities severely affected by Typhoon Rai - locally named Odette - that hit the country in December 2021. Some 80,000 people will participate in WFP Food Assistance for Assets projects in the provinces of Bohol and Southern Leyte and in the region of Caraga.
“The shift from relief to recovery projects is critical for families who have suffered a complete loss of livelihoods, and for communities whose farmlands and infrastructure still bear deep scars of devastation. Countless families are still struggling more than six months after the typhoon destroyed their homes and dreams. They need our continued support,” said WFP Philippines Representative and Country Director Brenda Barton.
The Food Assistance for Assets activities are designed to meet immediate food gaps through cash and vouchers and to give opportunities to communities in affected areas to work together – for example, cleaning and repairing damaged roads, restoring mangroves and coconut groves, and organizing community gardens.
WFP responded quickly following the onset of the typhoon, which hit 11 of Philippines’ 17 regions. Over 600 trucks were dispatched, enabling the delivery of more than half a million family food packs for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). In support of the Department of Information and Communications (DICT), WFP helped bring connectivity to government and humanitarian responders across the disaster zones.
Over a six-month period, WFP has assisted 330,000 people in Bohol, Southern Leyte and in the Caraga region through a combination of rice, cash and voucher assistance. In light of the global trends of high food, fuel and fertilizer prices, WFP is monitoring the food security situation closely, particularly in typhoon-affected areas where the price of a household food basket has progressively risen over the last six months.
WFP has received US$ 20.7 million for its Typhoon Odette emergency response, including US$2 million for recovery activities. Accordingly, WFP thanks the Asian Development Bank, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, France, Japan, Ireland, the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, and private sector partners for their generous donations towards WFP Typhoon Odette response.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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