Philippines: 2016 Highlights of Displacement and Effects Snapshot

Natural hazards and disaster events affected more than 10 million people in the Philippines in 2016. El Niño and tropical cyclones topped list of events with significant impact. For the first seven months of the year, El Niño contributed to several hundred million dollars in crop losses across the country, impacting the production of rice, vegetables and high-value crops. Thousands of farmers and their farmlands were affected. As the country entered typhoon season, drought gave way to tropical cyclones. Seven of the 14 tropical cyclones that entered or were formed in the Philippine Area of Responsibility made landfall. Typhoons Haima (Lawin) and Nock-Ten (Nina) in the last quarter of 2016 damaged over a half million homes and temporarily displaced nearly 5 million people. Natural disasters were not the only cause of displacement in the Philippines in 2016. Parts of Mindanao continue to be affected by military engagements with non-state armed groups and re-emerging clan feuds. People are often repeatedly displaced from the same area as encounters flare while others are forced to settle in ill-equipped evacuation camps. While seeking more durable solutions, Government entities and NGOs are assisting the affected people in relief and recovery efforts