World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

More than a week after Typhoon Bopha hit the Philippines, WFP continues to work around the clock with the Philippine government and other partner agencies to ensure that relief items reach those who need them most.

They say hope comes in all shapes and sizes. But when you’ve lost everything, how do you pick yourself up and where do you find hope?

WFP is moving food and supplies to the worst hit areas of the Philippines, following a request by the government for support in coping with the aftermath of Typhoon Bopha (also known as 'Pablo'). Humanitarian needs are rising as teams reach some of the worst hit areas and assess the damage. 

The Municipality of Pila in Laguna province often experiences flooding, and one of the reasons for this was the area’s clogged tributaries.  After Typhoon Ondoy severely affected the Philippines in September 2009, the local government unit (LGU) of Pila, with support from WFP, took proactive steps to help their community mitigate the impact of future natural disasters.

Edgardo Sababan, resident of Pila, recalls his family’s experience during Typhoon Ondoy, and shares how in August 2012, in the face of heavy and persistent rainfall, the LGU's and WFP’s joint efforts successfully kept the floodwaters at bay.
 

When the combined forces of Typhoon Saola and a southwest monsoon submerged nearly a third of Metro Manila and its neighbouring province in early August 2012 , WFP Philippines immediately provided High Energy Biscuits to supplement the Philippine Government's emergency relief efforts. Marilou Perez and her seven children, who live in a slum area in Manila, were among those who received this assistance. 

After being displaced by conflict, the women of Manga have finally found a way to support their families. Together with other women from their community, they are helping rebuild their families' lives and re-establishing their own livelihoods.

A communal garden project is helping returnee families rebuild their homes and re-establish their livelihoods. WFP Philippines assisted the families by providing them with food as incentive for attending the project's training sessions. 

The Liguasan Marsh is a 288,000- hectare marshland which plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the Central Mindanao region in the southern Philippines. The communities surrounding the marsh, together with their local government, has embarked on a reforestation project to protect and conserve the biodiversity of the marsh -- and WFP was there to support them.  

The effects of malnutrition during the first critical 1,000 days of a child’s life (starting from conception) can actually result in irreversible damage to a child’s physical and mental development. This is why WFP’s nutrition program -- implemented with various government and non-government partners -- is particularly targeted towards young children and breastfeeding mothers.

To celebrate Women’s Month, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently joined a mangrove planting activity that connected women with the critical issue of addressing climate change and food security in their community.