Philippines - IOM and UNHCR are set to distribute hundreds of chainsaws to help provide durable solutions to thousands of people left homeless by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Five hundred chainsaws will be delivered in early March to vulnerable populations in three of the most typhoon-devastated communities of Tacloban, Guiuan and Ormoc.

The chainsaws, valued at SEK 2.4 million (USD 370,000), were donated by Swedish power tool producer Husqvarna to assist in salvaging coconut trees cut down by the super typhoon.

The donation will be distributed in partnership with Catholic Relief Services, Christian Aid, Oxfam International, People in Need and ZOA.

More than 33 million coconut trees were lost in the aftermath of the typhoon, leaving at least a million coconut farmers with no means of livelihood.

Typhoon Haiyan’s high winds also damaged more than one million homes and displaced over four million people on November 8th 2013.

The joint effort by UNHCR and IOM to bring chainsaws into affected communities will address the enormous need for temporary shelter and permanent homes that remains months after the disaster.

UNHCR co-leads the Typhoon Haiyan protection cluster and IOM co-leads the camp coordination and camp management cluster alongside the Philippine Government. The distribution of chainsaws links the protection and shelter strategies of both agencies.

For more information please contact

IOM or UNHCR in the Philippines

Marco Boasso
IOM
Email: mboasso@iom.int

or

Johanna Morden
UNHCR
Tel.  +639173055573
Email:  morden@unhcr.org.