Roslyn is a young mother living in the island barangay of Jagoliao in Getafe, Bohol. Their house was among those destroyed by super typhoon Odette. She now lives in her mother's house together with her husband and 9-month-old daughter, Princess.
When Super Typhoon Odette arrived, Roslyn’s family had already evacuated to a school nearby. However, the sea started to swell, prompting them to move to a safer place. Residents feared getting injured as debris like wooden planks and galvanized iron sheets were blown away by the strong winds. “I wrapped [my daughter] Princess in two towels to protect her from the cold. After the typhoon, she had a fever that lasted three days,” shared Roslyn as she recounted their experience that night.
Roslyn’s husband catches seafood for a living, but residents say the amount of catch has been a bit low since Odette came. Because of this, families currently rely on donations to get by.
Supported by European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) through the REACH consortium, Save the Children Philippines continues to respond to this emergency, bringing relief items such as hygiene kits and household kits to children and families in worst-affected areas like Getafe, Bohol. After a month since the typhoon hit, the organization has been able to reach 10,445 people including over 3,200 children.
“I'm grateful that you came here and provided these things, because our household items were swallowed up by the sea. This is a big help for us. I hope you can help even more people,” said Roslyn.
Like Roslyn’s family, the residents of the island barangay of Jagoliao in Getafe, Bohol are working on rebuilding their homes and look forward to a new start as the year begins.