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Philippines

Women's Journeys Towards Recovery: One Year After Typhoon Haiyan

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On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines. An estimated 16.1 million people were affected, with 1.1 million damaged or destroyed homes and as many as 4.1 million people displaced - nearly four times as many as those left homeless by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. At least 6,300 people were killed and another 5.9 million workers lost their livelihoods and sources of income.

"Yolanda," as it was locally known, tested the Filipinos' ability to withstand and rise from adversity. This disaster has taught women they can step up and do more beyond their traditional roles. They can rebuild their own houses, restart their livelihoods, work together to support schools, organize community events, and help look after neighbours' needs.

CARE's experience in the Philippines and around the world shows that natural disasters and armed conflict affect women, men, boys and girls differently. According to "Sex and Age Matter." research carried out by CARE and Feinstein International Center, humanitarian programming is rarely informed by experiences of women and girls and the collection of sex and age disaggregated data.

In the Philippines, widows became the sole providers and caretakers of their households, women and girls risked sexual and gender-based violence in evacuation centres and makeshift houses, girls faced particular challenges attending school in the aftermath of the storm, pregnant women suffered from unsafe deliveries, and there were protection issues amongst households who lost their houses and livelihoods.