ReliefWeb

Period Covered: 18 December 2013 to 8 January 2014

Situation Overview: Communications with Communities

Wednesday marked the two month anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) making landfall. During those two months, as the relief effort has built, so too have efforts to improve communication with communities. Critical radio and telecommunications capacity has been re-established. A range of community feedback mechanisms, including agency based telephone hotlines, help desks, focus group discussions, and targeted assessments have been implemented. Targeted messaging relating to a variety of activities has also been broadcast or shared through other means. However, despite these efforts, communities continue to report significant information gaps. 59% of respondents in a Guiuan survey advocated for more frequent or clearer communication from international organisations. A recent assessment in Leyte found that communities, and to a certain extent local governments, were not aware of plans for future relief and recovery efforts in the area. It is clear that, despite a commendable effort and considerable achievement thus far, there remains considerable work left to do to fill the information gap that remains for the majority of the disaster affected population.