Philippines: Multiple Tropical Cyclones - Situation Report No. 5 (As of 01 April 2025)

On behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), this report is produced by OCHA Philippines in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) and humanitarian partners. Reporting for this situation report this covers 26 February- 31 March 2025.

HIGHLIGHTS

• As of 26 March 2025, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reports that 2,282 families remain displaced in the regions National Capital Region (NCR), 3, 5, 7 and 12 due to the combined effects of the six tropical cyclones and shear line.

• There are currently a total of 23 evacuation sites open to provide temporary shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs) which represents a 53 per cent reduction from the previous month.

• Most cluster response efforts are nearing their completion.

• The Protection cluster has noted that some affected children and their families have mental health and psychosocial needs related to the emergency. Most children who have experienced stressful situations will manifest physical and behavioral signs of their distress.

• There are significant gaps in the provision of Emergency Shelter. With state weather bureau PAGASA declaring the end of the Northeast Monsoon, vulnerable families must now prepare for hot and dry season conditions, which could pose extreme heat risks, similar to past years.

• There is a pressing need to strengthen the Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) program of DOH to expand sanitation coverage and eliminate open defecation practices. Alongside this, the roll-out of the National Policy on WASH in Emergencies is essential, focusing on forming and activating WASH Clusters to ensure a coordinated response in future emergencies.

• A Response Portal has been developed to provide latest information on displacement, cluster indicators, response funding and cluster 3W.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The Philippines has been severely impacted by six successive tropical cyclones, affecting over 13 million people across all 18 regions. The 15 worst-affected provinces account for 5.9 million affected individuals, with 2.6 million people displaced. Some communities endured multiple displacements as storms struck in quick succession.

Five months after the disaster, there are still around 2,800 families remaining in 23 evacuation centres (ECs). With the end of the northeast monsoon season, many returning households will need to prepare for hot and dry weather conditions.

With the recent pronouncements surrounding the funding freeze by the US government, humanitarian response particularly for Emergency Shelter faces significant funding gaps, as it remains critically underfunded, with an 83 per cent gap.

Continued collaboration among humanitarian actors, government agencies, and donors is essential to address the urgent needs of affected communities and support long-term recovery. Recently, multiple agencies (of IOM, UNFPA, Health, WASH, and Protection clusters) supported joint field missions to two provinces in Region 5 on Protection of Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse (PSHEA)/ Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP). The 2-day trainings were held in 6 municipalities, together with 2 non-government organization (NGO) implementing partners.

In March, a joint After Action Review and reflection session was organized by the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GIHA), PSEA and AAP thematic sub-working groups which is in support of a wider After Action Review for the Six Tropical Cyclones to be conducted in late April.