The content highlighted in this blog are those of the authors/organizations and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
IOM does not guarantee the accuracy of the typhoon-related data included in this blog and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use.
It is the night of November 7, 2013. The winds are howling deafeningly against the windows. The lights are flickering. Phone screens are lit, with everyone monitoring the latest developments on Typhoon Haiyan.
By Romina "Beng" Sta. Clara
Almost a year has gone by and I haven’t even unpacked the stuff we accumulated from Bangkok, Bali and Yangon. I was just supposed to chill when I returned to my home country to follow my love. 2013 is really remarkable for my return to the Philippines and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
By Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman Department of Social Welfare and Development
By Anthony Caingles
Conrad Navidad of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) - Philippines’ Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) was deployed to Haiyan (locally, Yolanda) Ground Zero 24 hours after “the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in all recorded history” broke into the islands of Samar and Leyte. Nervous, excited, and afraid – all at the same time – Conrad said a word of prayer as he boarded his plane not knowing what awaited him at his destination and how long he would stay there.
By Amy Rhoades
The meeting about the typhoon response had just ended. As I walked down the devastated streets of Tacloban, I heard two young girls singing a familiar chorus: “We’ve been through a storm but we’re not defeated. We all carry pain but are ready to move on. We’ll build a new life together, a safe place for everyone. Building strong foundations so we can stand,” they sang (in Waray, the local language of Tacloban).
By Christopher Hoffman
Whether we are discussing pre-disaster risk reduction methodologies or post disaster response, one overarching factor is key: mobility.
By Amy Rhoades for IOM
9 Jan 2013
By Joe Lowry in Tacloban
06 February 2014
After almost three months sitting around, Benjie Amores decided it was time to go back to work. He hadn’t been completely idle – there was the small matter of helping his family overcome the effects of Typhoon Haiyan, move from a wrecked convention centre into a tent, and from a tent into a shack, queue for relief assistance, find medical help when needed and so on.
By Joe Lowry in Tacloban, Central Philippines
09 December 2013
By Daryl Dano
Having been in the aviation business for many years, Ramiro Villavicencio has spent most of his life delivering people and goods to their respective destinations. But his services took on a new meaning in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan as he teamed up with his long-time friend, Immanuel Cabili, to deliver life-saving aid and supplies in the critical early hours after the typhoon hit.
By Joe Lowry, in Tacloban, Central Philippines
On 8 November, 18-year-old Marike Malate, heavily pregnant, was at home with her parents and her husband Johnel Loreta, also 18, in Tacloban, Central Philippines. They knew a strong typhoon was coming, but were unprepared for the full fury of Haiyan (local name Yolanda.)
By Grant Robertshaw
27 November 2013