Driving through the town of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, street lights lit up the shop fronts and the soft beat of a radio wafted through the air. Smiling people strolled through the evening hustle and bustle seemingly without a care in the world. The scene was a far cry from what I was expecting.
Nov. 8 marked a year since Typhoon Haiyan — one of the strongest storms ever recorded — hit the Philippines. Some 14 million people were affected, including 4 million forced to flee their homes. A total of 6,200 people lost their lives.
The last time I was in Guiuan was in the immediate aftermath when I was traveling with our emergency response team. There was no electricity, except for a handful of generators. Rubble and debris was strewn through the streets and a damp, festering smell lingered in the air.
About the author
Melanie Hargreaves
Melanie Hargreaves is Christian Aid's regional media officer for Brazil and the Philippines. She joined the organization 2010, and was previously a features writer at the U.K. Press Association. Hargreaves has also written for publications such as The Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The Daily Express, The Sun and a number of women’s magazines.