Stakeholders start post-Yolanda evaluation

CEBU, Philippines - Stakeholders involved in the humanitarian response in areas ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda are here in Cebu for an Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation.

The evaluation aims to independently assess the achievement of the Strategic Response Plan of the international humanitarian community, capture lesson and good practices, assess the extent to which response mechanism supported the response, and provide recommendations for the future.

“It is for us to have lessons learned. It is not to blame anybody. At least we can gather lesson na hindi na natin uulitin next if ever there is going to (be) another disaster,” said Carmel Ulanday, Capitol’s consultant for rehabilitation and recovery.

The national government, United Nation agencies, international and local non-government organizations, and other humanitarian partners comprised the In-country Advisory Group conducting evaluation.

Starting yesterday until September 4, the team will meet with representatives from the provincial government, international organizations, and civil society organizations involved in the Yolanda response.

The team will also visit affected areas in the province to meet local officials and conduct consultations with selected communities.

Ulanday said the identified communities to be visited by the team include those in the towns of Bantayan, Santa Fe, and Daanbantayan.

She explained that the areas were chosen based on the criteria: It should have experienced high level of damage from Yolanda, experienced high level of poverty before the typhoon, there has been interagency assistance provided to the community, should not be frequently visited by other agencies doing the same evaluation, among others.

The team will meet Governor Hilario Davide III on Thursday, September 4, to inform him with the initial result of the evaluation. Yolanda’s onslaught in November 8 left a total of 103,831 houses damaged while 152,746 families affected.  (FREEMAN)