On the morning of Friday 8 November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda) hit the Philippines; an unprecedented Category 5 storm that affected two-thirds of the country. Typhoon Haiyan is thought to be the strongest storm ever to make landfall, taking the lives of more than 6,200 people and affecting over 14 million people across 44 provinces. This included some 5 million affected children and 1.7 million displaced children.
The scale of this disaster required an unprecedented response. Plan International rapidly deployed staff from around the world to work alongside the Plan International Philippines team, including those staff who were directly affected but chose to prioritise the response and helping others over personal needs. As the communities affected by this disaster embark on the long recovery process, Plan International has been there to deliver aid and support to recover and build back better, stronger, together.