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The Philippines social workers who are still battling typhoon Yolanda The Philippines social workers who are still battling typhoon Yolanda
(about 9 hours later)
The peoples of the Philippines know about hardship, surviving poverty and resilience. Despite enduring the same terrible conditions as other survivors, the social workers in Tacloban carried on doing their jobs – supporting people in restoring their lives.The peoples of the Philippines know about hardship, surviving poverty and resilience. Despite enduring the same terrible conditions as other survivors, the social workers in Tacloban carried on doing their jobs – supporting people in restoring their lives.
Listening to and watching them it is clear that they are having a positive impact, because they involve the survivors in their own social development. This allows them to work together to rebuild their confidence, purpose and dignity – and take control of their own futures.Listening to and watching them it is clear that they are having a positive impact, because they involve the survivors in their own social development. This allows them to work together to rebuild their confidence, purpose and dignity – and take control of their own futures.
The social workers of Tacloban told our visiting delegation that their resilience and ability to continue practicing come both from their cultural experience and their social work training. This particular group of professionals are living in coastal communities that were almost totally devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, which killed approximately 10,000 people last November.The social workers of Tacloban told our visiting delegation that their resilience and ability to continue practicing come both from their cultural experience and their social work training. This particular group of professionals are living in coastal communities that were almost totally devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, which killed approximately 10,000 people last November.
These social workers, who are also survivors, have worked everyday since November 8th despite their own trauma and loss of family members, colleagues, houses, clothes and treasured positions. They have heroically put their communities first, seven days a week for two and a half months – and naturally they are exhausted.These social workers, who are also survivors, have worked everyday since November 8th despite their own trauma and loss of family members, colleagues, houses, clothes and treasured positions. They have heroically put their communities first, seven days a week for two and a half months – and naturally they are exhausted.
From the first moments of that catastrophic day, the local social workers played a critical role. One died on duty trying to help others to get to a safer place and another is still classified as missing. All the professionals carry the immense pressure of trauma.From the first moments of that catastrophic day, the local social workers played a critical role. One died on duty trying to help others to get to a safer place and another is still classified as missing. All the professionals carry the immense pressure of trauma.
Describing his own experiences on the day of the typhoon one very senior social worker told us he was trapped with others on top of a two-story building watching the water rise swiftly and knowing they might soon be swept away. They were thrown a rope by people on a taller building on the opposite side of the road, which they secured and used, with great difficulty, to pull themselves to safety – crossing above streaming water with bodies and debris.Describing his own experiences on the day of the typhoon one very senior social worker told us he was trapped with others on top of a two-story building watching the water rise swiftly and knowing they might soon be swept away. They were thrown a rope by people on a taller building on the opposite side of the road, which they secured and used, with great difficulty, to pull themselves to safety – crossing above streaming water with bodies and debris.
The social worker was the last to leave the flooding two-story building and no one was able to assist him and stabilise the rope. He told us: "I was sure I was going to die and I shouted to the others on the building across the road, 'Please just take my body home'."The social worker was the last to leave the flooding two-story building and no one was able to assist him and stabilise the rope. He told us: "I was sure I was going to die and I shouted to the others on the building across the road, 'Please just take my body home'."
He did make it across, but how, he can't remember. The deep lines and constant stiffing of his facial muscles to hold back the emotions echoed in his next comment: "It's still in my dreams and in my day."He did make it across, but how, he can't remember. The deep lines and constant stiffing of his facial muscles to hold back the emotions echoed in his next comment: "It's still in my dreams and in my day."
All the social workers of Tacloban had such stories and have had to make difficult choices between the needs of their own, often traumatised families, and the needs of the community.All the social workers of Tacloban had such stories and have had to make difficult choices between the needs of their own, often traumatised families, and the needs of the community.
At first the social workers of Tacloban played a key role in assessing the damage to the community and advising rescue and medical teams. The focus was on getting food and supplies to people who had lost all material possessions and who were dazed and in despair. Now, their role is to provide authentication for the victims as their birth certificates and other paperwork were all destroyed.At first the social workers of Tacloban played a key role in assessing the damage to the community and advising rescue and medical teams. The focus was on getting food and supplies to people who had lost all material possessions and who were dazed and in despair. Now, their role is to provide authentication for the victims as their birth certificates and other paperwork were all destroyed.
This is critically important because authentication gives the survivors a legal status, and once the international agencies have left, such status could be the difference between surviving or not.This is critically important because authentication gives the survivors a legal status, and once the international agencies have left, such status could be the difference between surviving or not.
"Having a legal document saying who they are helps restore their dignity," one social worker told us."Having a legal document saying who they are helps restore their dignity," one social worker told us.
The International Federation of Social Workers is actively supporting those working in the typhoon affected areas. Money is being sent by members from around the world to enable other social workers from areas of the Philippines, which have not been affected, to offer debriefing and provide cover. This will allow the social worker's of Tacloban time with their families and time to take stock of their own needs. The International Federation of Social Workers is actively supporting those working in the typhoon affected areas. Money is being sent by members from around the world to enable other social workers from areas of the Philippines, which have not been affected, to offer debriefing and provide cover. This will allow the social workers of Tacloban time with their families and time to take stock of their own needs.
To see more information and photos of the Typhoon affected areas follow Rory Truell's updates on his Facebook or visit www.ifsw.orgTo see more information and photos of the Typhoon affected areas follow Rory Truell's updates on his Facebook or visit www.ifsw.org
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