title: "Providing a Roof" and More to Communities Affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines: the Médecins Sans Frontières Experience.
abstract: Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November 2013 and left a trail of destruction. As part of its emergency response, Médecins Sans Frontières distributed materials for reconstructing houses and boats as standardized kits to be shared between households. Community engagement was sought and communities were empowered in deciding how to make the distributions. We aimed to answer, Was this effective and what lessons were learned?
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted in May 2014 and included all community leaders and 269 households in 22 barangays (community administrative areas).
  
  
  
  All houses were affected by the typhoon, of which 182 (68%) were totally damaged. All households reported having received and used the housing material. However, in 238 (88%) house repair was incomplete because the materials provided were insufficient or inappropriate for the required repairs.
  
  
  
  This experience of emergency mass distribution of reconstruction or repair materials of houses and boats led by the local community was encouraging. The use of "standardized kits" resulted in equity issues, because households were subjected to variable degrees of damage. A possible way out is to follow up the emergency distribution with a needs assessment and a tailored distribution. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:285-289).
authors.affiliation: 1Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels,Medical Department,Operational Research Unit (LuxOR),Luxembourg City,Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Engy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: 2Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels,Medical Department,Emergency Unit,Brussels,Belgium.
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ferir
authors.affiliation: 1Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels,Medical Department,Operational Research Unit (LuxOR),Luxembourg City,Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: 2Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels,Medical Department,Emergency Unit,Brussels,Belgium.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: 1Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels,Medical Department,Operational Research Unit (LuxOR),Luxembourg City,Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Den Boogaard
authors.affiliation: 3Municipality of Guiuan,Guiuan,Eastern Samar Island,Philippines.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.affiliation: 1Médecins Sans Frontières - Operational Centre Brussels,Medical Department,Operational Research Unit (LuxOR),Luxembourg City,Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zachariah
mesh_terms: D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000639:trends; D060389:Construction Industry / Q000379:methods*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D054597:Disaster Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000639:trends; D010679:Philippines; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Philippines; community empowerment; shelter; typhoon