Philippines - Mission Report Environmental Response Typhoon Rai / Odette (as of 25 July 2022)

Executive Summary

Making its first landfall in the afternoon of 16 December 2021, Super Typhoon Rai, locally known as Odette, brought torrential rains, violent winds, mudslides, floods and storm surges to central-southern Philippines, specifically the Visayas and Mindanao Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 195km/h and gusts up to 260km/h.

UN OCHA in the Philippines requested the Joint Environment Unit in Geneva to assist with remote support and the highest priority issues to focus on were Debris Management and environmental integration in Post Disaster Needs Assessments. The remote support was provided in January and February 2022. Additional support was requested and an Environmental Field Adviser was deployed from 25 March to 25 July and extended environmental support up until the end of the HNP.

Mission objectives for the environmental field advisor were:

1. Identify acute environmental risks and deliver recommendations on how to address them to minimize the environmental impact of humanitarian actions in short-, medium- and long-term.

2. Key clusters are aware of environmental risks and impacts and take into account environmental considerations in postcyclone planning and programming.

3. Develop strategies and plans of disaster waste management with focus on reuse and recycling and potential hazardous waste are to be considered and anchored in the Post Needs Assessment (PDNA) to promote a sustainable transition from the immediate emergency response phase to early recovery. Real-time technical advice and medium- to long-term recommendations on disaster waste management are delivered to key stakeholders for short-, medium- and long-term implementation.

4. Establish a collaboration with national and provincial authorities, NGOs and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on disaster waste management in the HNP priority regions and other identified locations, as needed.

Key activities to accomplish the mission objectives have included:

• Field visits to the affected regions in Palawan, Southern Leyte and Caraga
• Meetings with stakeholders such as LGUs (Province, City/Municipal, Barangay, DRRM, DENR, ENRO), clusters, NonGovernmental Organizations (NGO), Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and UN staff.
• Gathering information and assessment of in the Post Needs Assessments (PDNA)
• Presentations and advocacy on environmental issues.
• Assessments and recommendations to various documents i.e. situations reports and cash reference guide.

Key findings are that the impact of Typhoon Rai was spread across several islands with diverse geographic characteristics and limited resilience. Naturally growing and planted trees were significantly damaged causing landslides in some hilly areas which, in turn, affected tourism sites and marine resources and left rivers, canals, roads and shores full of waste materials. The most affected areas are rural and coastal and hence the main impacts on the environment are:

• Deforestation

• Damaged rivers and marine environment

• Increase of solid waste and debris

These environmental issues do not only originate from the typhoon but have been enhanced due to the disaster.

The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Every year, the country experiences almost all forms of natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions along with numerous complex emergencies due to armed conflict. Therefore it is important to take actions to mitigate the effects of these disasters and prevent secondary environmental effects. Not only do these disasters have a huge environmental impact themselves, but the relief provided following these events can also have their own environmental consequences. Mainstreaming of environmental concerns in the humanitarian program cycle is vital. The extent to which the environment is considered in the pre-disaster context is decisive for the integration of environmental concerns throughout humanitarian response and recovery, which in turn will lead to a reduced environmental impact during recovery efforts.