Delphin, 69, the Philippines

When floods caused by typhoon Ketsana hit Delfin's house in September 2009, the only thing left was its cement flooring.

HelpAge helped Delfin and his wife repair their home after it was destroyed in typhoon Ketsana. Photo: COSE/HelpAge International 2010

The 69-year-old said: "My house was totally washed out by the floods - its walls, windows and roof were all destroyed."

Delfin and his wife Anita, 76, live in Quezon City in the Philippines. The community suffered 50 deaths after the typhoon hit the country.

Amazing tale of survival

We first heard of Delfin's experience shortly after the typhoon struck and were amazed by the tale of how he and his wife survived the terrible devastation.

But with practically nothing left to start rebuilding his home, Delfin felt low and depressed.

However, when we spoke to him six months later in March 2010, things were looking up.

Immediately after the flood Delfin and his family received relief but he knew that would not be enough to support his family in the months after the disaster.

"So when I learned I was chosen for a shelter repair assistance programme, I was extremely happy," he said.

"I was able to build a simple home"

There are 85 older participants in the programme which is supported by HelpAge International and the Disasters Emergency Committee. Each person was given a cash grant of around $266.

Delfin said: "With that amount I was able to build a simple home. If I did not receive the cash assistance, I would find it very difficult to rebuild my home on my own."

Six months on and smiling

Six months on, Delfin and Anita are smiling. "My wife and I can now safely stay in our new home. It's not big, but I'm happy with it. There are still some repairs to be done. But we can now sleep comfortably in our own home," he said.

Delfin added that he would be thankful if older people like him, affected by a disaster, were given some livelihood assistance to provide a more sustainable income.