Attachments
On 15 September 2018, Typhoon Mangkhut locally known as Ompong, made landfall in Baggao, Cagayan at around 1:40 AM with maximum sustained winds of 205 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 285 kph with movement of 35 kph West Northwest (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration). Based on official reports by government and non-government agencies, Typhoon Mangkhut affected around 1.4 million people across Regions I (Ilocos), II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).
Emerging WASH concerns:
Given the extensive damage to people’s homes, there are concerns that latrines will have been severely damaged too (although no specific sanitation assessment has been conducted as yet.) Local governments distributed hygiene kits and water kits to evacuation centres, but not all families were covered or some of the kits contain limited number hygiene products. WASH Cluster partners are implementing their respective response and early recovery interventions in collaboration with DOH regional offices, provincial and municipal health offices. As such their actions are also geared towards increasing the capacity of local governments in WASH programming in both emergency and development contexts.