Necitas, 73, and Isabela, 92, the Philippines

Typhoon Bopha hit the Philippines in December 2012, affecting over 5.5 million people and killing more than 900.

The typhoon caused extensive damage to houses and destroyed people's means of earning a living, leaving an estimated 800,000 to 1.1 million people in need of food.

HelpAge, with our partner Coalition of Services to the Elderly (COSE), supported older people affected by providing urgent food, as well as other basic items, shelter and livelihood assistance. Necitas, 73 and her mother Isabela, 93 were in urgent need of food. HelpAge and our partner responded to older people affected by Typhoon Bopha. (c) Peter Caton/HelpAge International

Necitas, 73, and her mother Isabela, 92, are both widows. Necitas said: "There is nobody to support us. This morning I was crying because we have no more food to eat."

A quarter of the country's banana crop was also lost in the typhoon.
Necitas's brother, Eliseo is 63 and has lived on his banana and coconut plantation since 1959. His plantation was completely destroyed in the typhoon.

We need food and shelter

He said: "It will take at least two years for my life to return to normal. The trees need time to grow. We have no income at the moment; we are dependent on relief assistance and donations. We need rice, food and shelter."

In January 2013, more than 1,000 older people marched in Manila to demand more support for older people affected by Typhoon Bopha.

Julie Catangay, an officer of the Confederation of Older Persons' Associations of the Philippines (COPAP) added:

"Most of the time when older people are given any help, they give it first to their families. These factors mean that older people are particularly vulnerable during disasters."