Habitat to build more than 800 homes at first resettlement site in Tacloban
Bangkok, 16 January 2014: Global non-profit shelter organization Habitat for Humanity today signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine government’s National Housing Authority and the City of Tacloban for a rebuilding project following Typhoon Haiyan. At this project site Habitat will build 852 houses for families that lost their homes to the natural disaster that struck the Visayas region of the Philippines two months ago.
The latest Philippine government figures show that more than 1.1 million homes were either damaged or destroyed by the typhoon.
“Signing this agreement in Tacloban is a major step in Habitat for Humanity’s long-term rebuilding efforts following Haiyan. Safe, decent shelter provides the platform on which much of post-disaster assistance is built – health, water, sanitation, livelihoods, safety, education – and is one of the most pressing issues currently facing Haiyan-affected families,” said Rick Hathaway, Habitat for Humanity Asia-Pacific Vice President.
Over the coming weeks and months, Habitat will continue its disaster response efforts and aims to distribute up to 30,000 shelter repair kits and build 30,000 homes, depending on availability of funding.
The 852 homes will be built at a 10-hectare resettlement site in the barangay (municipal ward) of Kawayan, provided by the City of Tacloban.
“We are grateful for the generous donations already received. There is still a lot more to be done in order to build back a stronger Visayas. Habitat is committed to supporting affected families long-term and, together with your help, we will rebuild lives.”
“We continue to work closely with the Philippine government and other partners to assist those affected in a coordinated approach,” continued Hathaway.
Habitat started distributing emergency shelter kits just days after Haiyan struck, shifting to shelter repair kits as needs changed. To date, Habitat has supported more than 10,000 families with emergency shelter and shelter repair kits, and will continue shelter repair kit distributions as rebuilding projects get underway.
Since 1988, Habitat for Humanity Philippines has played an active role in working with families to build decent homes. Through a network of project offices in rural and urban areas, Habitat for Humanity Philippines has built and repaired tens of thousands of houses.
http://www.give2habitat.org/philippines/ReBuildPhilippines
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Heron Holloway
Media Relations and Disaster Communications Manager, Asia-Pacific
Habitat for Humanity International • Asia-Pacific Satellite Office
420 North Bridge Road, #03-13 North Bridge Center, Singapore 188727
Tel: +65 6336 0693 • Mobile: +65 9068 1892 • Skype: heron.holloway
hholloway@habitat.org