Typhoon Rai Response – Philippines
Above: A resident of Cabugao, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte in Mindanao points at a home destroyed by Typhoon Rai. Photo: Save the Children
The Philippines was struck by powerful Typhoon Rai on December 16, 2021. The Category 5 Super Typhoon killed more than 400 people, damaged more than 1.7 million homes, and displaced nearly 200,000, with much of the damage occurring in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
As of early 2022, large numbers of people remain displaced, with significant need for shelter, food, water, hygiene supplies and other humanitarian essentials. Schooling has been significantly disrupted, with 4,000 classrooms destroyed, while many other public and community facilities require repair and rehabilitation. Damage to agricultural crops and businesses has negatively impacted on livelihoods, while surges in COVID-19 cases in affected areas are complicating the response.
The AHP Response
The Australian Government announced $1 million in support for Australian Humanitarian Partnership NGOs as part of a broader $5 million humanitarian package for the Philippines.
The AHP consortium, led by Save the Children Australia together with CARE Australia and Plan International Australia, are delivering life-saving interventions to affected villages in the provinces of Bohol, Negros Occidental and Cebu. Through cash transfers and in-kind distributions, AHP partners are addressing the immediate humanitarian needs of affected families, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups.
AHP partners are working closely with local civil society and local government units to deliver the response, while also ensuring programming takes into account the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The response will be delivered in partnership with their national offices, as well as two local NGOs, Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK) and Bohol Integrated Development Foundation.
The response will also support recovery from the disaster through rehabilitation and repair of water supply and sanitation facilities, support for livelihoods and farming, and protection programming.