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CONTEXT
● Situated along the Western Pacific tropical storm region and the Pacific Ring of Fire—an approximately 25,000-mile geographic belt in the Pacific Ocean with significant seismic activity—the Philippines is among the world’s most disasterprone countries. An average of 20 cyclones affect the country each year, triggering floods, landslides, and storm surges that frequently result in the loss of lives and livelihoods, as well as infrastructure damage. The Philippines also has high levels of seismic and volcanic activity due to its location between two major fault lines.
● The effects of climate change are causing tropical cyclones to intensify rapidly and unpredictably, resulting in higher levels of humanitarian needs. Seven tropical storms struck the Philippines between September and mid-November, causing casualties, widespread displacement, and damage to homes and critical infrastructure. In November alone, three typhoons passed over the Philippines—including Super Typhoon Man-yi—and adversely affected a total of 2.3 million people, 655,600 of whom were displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance as of late November, according to local authorities. The cumulative effects of the storms also deteriorated affected populations’ resilience, reducing their ability to quickly rebuild and recover.
● To address the effects of Typhoon Krathon, Tropical Storm Trami, and Super Typhoon Man-yi—among the most devastating of the seven tropical storms to affect the Philippines since late September—Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson issued three declarations of humanitarian need between early October and mid-November. In response to the seven storms, USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) preparedness partners the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN World Food Program (WFP) rapidly responded to reinforce the Government of the Philippines’ (GPH) capacity to assess humanitarian needs, efficiently distribute emergency relief commodities, and support emergency shelter requirements. Overall, the storms caused at least 188 deaths, displaced more than 800,000 people, damaged key infrastructure, and disrupted basic services, exacerbating humanitarian needs among affected communities countrywide. As of early December, USAID/BHA had provided a total of $6.5 million in funding to support the immediate needs of affected individuals, including emergency shelter, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) support.