After the devastation caused in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, the authorities pledged to ‘build back better’ to ensure that affected communities were stronger and more resilient in the face of future storms. Significant efforts and some important steps have been taken to begin to fulfil that vision. But unless the fundamental issue of security of land tenure is addressed, poor and vulnerable people – those most affected by Typhoon Haiyan – are at risk of being left out of any lasting recovery and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the strongest storm to ever make landfall.

This Oxfam briefing shows how the government’s commitment to build back better requires more than building safe houses. It also demands measures to provide land tenure security for poor and vulnerable people as part of relocation and resettlement efforts and as part of livelihoods recovery programmes.