By Miranda Simpson
HelpAge is working with our local partner Coalition of Services to the Elderly (COSE) to support older people affected by Typhoon Bopha, which hit the Philippines in December 2012. The disaster affected over 5.5 million people and killed more than 1,000.
Older people are some of the nearly one million people displaced by the devastating typhoon which destroyed or damaged over 200,000 homes.
Distributing essential items
So far, with our partner COSE, we have distributed cooking and bedding supplies to around 500 older people. The first group to receive assistance was severely affected older people and their families from the town of Trento, Agusan Del Sur.
Older people in the municipalities of Rosario and Bunawan will also receive these basic and essential items, which include cooking pots, blankets, flashlights, bed mats and pain reliever lotion.
Most in need prioritised
High demand for relief supplies meant items had to be procured in Davao City and transported to Agusan Del Sur, where local community volunteers helped pack items ready for distribution.
Older people can face difficulties accessing relief supplies as they are often not able to queue at distribution points for long periods. To avoid this, local older people’s assocations have prioritised those most in need and ensured items are distributed quickly and safely.
In images: Older people and Typhoon Bopha