Supertyphoon Yolanda caused great devastation to the city of Tacloban,  forcing  some 3, 243 families to flee from their homes and stay in evacuation camps.  Others remained in their totally – wrecked houses while the rest,  to Manila or Cebu or elsewhere.

To date, there are 39 evacuation centers in the city.  The DSWD takes the lead in managing said refuge camps, giving priority attention to children, women, older persons, and those with disabilities.  For women, the Women Friendly Space (WFS) is one strategy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to respond to the effects of displacement and vulnerability of women to crisis situations brought by natural and human – induced disaster.

Bella Maῇosa (not her real name), in her early 30’s,  shared a touching experience with the super storm.  She appeared to be a strong person but affected still,  her voice trembling.  Said Bella, “  I was able to get hold of a cable wire while carrying my baby.  The determination of my husband pushed me to carry on despite the threat that any minute me and my baby would die. The water was chest – high. Finally, we were able to find shelter in the second storey of a nearby house.”

Another woman, who resides at Pampango District in Tacloban, tells she and her younger child were carried by the strong current,  about ten meters away from their home.  A banana trunk aided them to safety.  She, however, tells that it was such an ordeal considering the risks,  and the possibility that she won’t be able to see her other son again.

“I was trembling with fear and uncertainty.  It was all too sudden.  I never thought the situation will end up to this because I have no idea about “storm surge” in the first place. I could also be blamed, knowing we were living along the coast.  My family was advised to “abandon ship” but we didn’t.  Thanks God, we were reunited later with my older son!  He was rescued by my uncle,” a tearful Rowena (not her real name).

Rowena further reveals that she could not sleep well at night. She tells that usually in early mornings she would be awaken,  and looks dumbfounded.

Both women are now staying at the Rizal Central School which is located in the heart of the city.  Social workers from DSWD Central Office in Quezon helped her overcome the stresses enveloping their being  as a result of the killer typhoon.

“Paano kami babangon?  Matagal na naming pinag-ipon ang mga gamit ng mahabang panahon !  Kailangan namin ng hanapbuhay,” (How will we rise again ?  We invested on our things for such a long time !  We need to have livelihood.), a middle-aged Yolanda survivor (a woman) expresses her grief over their lost possessions.

“Masakit,  marami akong pinaghihinayangan !  Ang ganda pa naman ng Tacloban!, (It’s heartbreaking;  I have so much to fret for.  Another thing, Tacloban is such a  wonderful place !  Mercy (alias only) sadly says.

Mercy is one of the six women being trained as facilitators for the Women Friendly Space, at the Tacloban City Convention Center (familiarly called as Astrodome).  Alona Bermejo, the focal person of the WFS strategy who is based at the DSWD Central Office, bares that the project is co-funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Bermejo says a WFS can be installed in a classroom, an office space facility, or a tent such as that where Mercy is relocated.  She adds that initially,  five WFS are installed  –  at the Redemptorist Church, San Fernando Community School, San Jose Elementary School, Rizal Central School, and the Tacloban Convention Center.

The WFS concept operates by tapping service providers, not only in providing psycho-social support intervention of the internally displaced women but medical and reproductive health services and basic requirements for food and non-food items, as well.  It also serves as entry to the local government unit referral system and access to different agencies in the provision of livelihood opportunities.

Just this week,  the UNFPA had a Reproductive Health Medical Mission at the Tacloban City Convention Center.