Tacloban City, Leyte – Aware of the special needs of women who are presently staying in evacuation centers, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has set-up Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) in its evacuation centers.
WFS is a special place for women in evacuation centers where they can breastfeed their children, learn about health and well-being, and receive counseling, among others.
The establishment of the WFS is also integrated in evacuation camp management which aims to respond to the effects of displacement and vulnerability of women and children in natural and man-made crisis situations, such as disasters and incidents of armed conflict.
Initially, five WFS are installed at the Leyte National High School, San Fernando Community School, San Jose Elementary School, Rizal Central School, and the Tacloban Convention Center.
Alona Bermejo, the focal person of the WFS strategy, said that the project is co-funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
She further explains that a WFS can be installed in a classroom, in an office space facility, or in a tent.
The WFS concept operates by tapping service providers, not only in providing psycho-social support for the internally displaced women but also medical, reproductive health services and basic food and non-food needs.
Beneficiaries of the WFS will become part of the local government unit referral system where they will be accessed to different agencies for livelihood opportunities.
Just this week, the UNFPA had a Reproductive Health Medical Mission at the convention center.
Stories of courage
The WFS has been a place where women can interact and share their stories as part of their coping to overcome their trauma. They are are guided by social workers who are trained on stress debriefing.
In the WFS at Rizal Central School, social workers gathered the women to tell their stories.
A lady in her early 30’s, shared her touching experience with the supertyphoon. She appeared to be a strong person yet she cannot hide the tremble in her voice.
Not wanting to be named, she shared in local dialect, “I was able to get hold of a cable wire while carrying my baby. The determination of my husband pushed me to carry on despite the threat that any minute me and my baby would die. The water was chest-high. Finally, we were able to find shelter in the second storey of a nearby house.”
Another woman who resides at Pampango District recounted that she and her child were washed away, about ten meters from their home. A banana trunk aided them to safety. She, however, said that it was such an ordeal expressing her fear that she won’t be able to see her other son again.
“I was trembling with fear and uncertainty. It was all too sudden. I never thought the situation will end up this way because I don’t know what “storm surge” is. I could also be blamed. My family was advised to evacuate but we didn’t. Thank God, we were reunited later with my older son. He was rescued by my uncle,” she tearfully related.
“Paano kami babangon? Pinag-ipunan namin ang mga gamit ng mahabang panahon. Kailangan namin ng hanapbuhay.(How will we rise again? It took us quite some time to save for our belongings. We need to have livelihood),” another woman-survivor said expressing her grief over her lost possessions.
“Masakit, marami akong pinaghihinayangan. Ang ganda pa naman ng Tacloban. (It’s heartbreaking, Tacloban is such a wonderful place),” another evacuee shared.# # #
