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MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 3 December 2024 – Typhoon Man-Yi struck the Philippines on 16 November 2024, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. As the sixth typhoon to hit the country in a month, Man-Yi has exacerbated the challenges faced by those already impacted by extreme weather events.People in Need (PIN), in coordination with our local partnersis supporting the people, particularly in Catanduanes, the province hardest hit by the typhoon.
Catanduanes experienced Typhoon Man-Yi’s full force, with strong winds, heavy rainfall, and sea surges causing widespread destruction. Initial assessments reveal:
- Up to 80% of coconut trees have been destroyed, alongside significant rice and abaca crop losses.
- Thousands of homes have been either damaged or demolished, particularly in northern and eastern municipalities.
- Access to clean water has been severely disrupted due to power outages and damage to water systems.
Humanitarian Needs
The typhoon has left communities in need of:
- Shelter: Thousands of families require materials to repair or rebuild their homes.
- Food Security: Despite large-scale food distributions, gaps remain, particularly for vulnerable households.
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Damaged water systems have left many reliant on unsafe sources, heightening the risk of waterborne diseases.
People in Need’s Response
People in Need (PIN) deployed its Emergency Response Team (ERT) to Catanduanes to assess the situation and provide support. Working with local partners, including the Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF) and Catanduanes SWISA Federation (provincial independent affiliate of IRDF), PIN has prioritised the following actions:
- Food Distribution: PIN coordinated the distribution of almost 500 food packs, focusing on those with pregnant women, persons with disabilities, single-headed households, and families whose homes were destroyed.
- Shelter Support: The team is gathering data to inform shelter repair initiatives and is engaging communities to ensure their needs are met.
- Community Feedback: PIN introduced a Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) to gather insights from affected populations, ensuring the quality and relevance of interventions.
“Shelter and food kits are critical priorities,” said Ivan Ledesma, PIN’s Surge Team Leader. “While we have already distributed food packs to 500 families, we’re committed to providing shelter repair kits in the coming weeks.”
In partnership with local authorities, including the Provincial Government of Catanduanes and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, PIN is ensuring that its efforts complement those of the government-led and other actors. This coordination aims to reduce duplication and resolve the most pressing needs.
Call to Action
As affected communities work to recover from the typhoon, People in Need calls for additional support to ramp up efforts to help those who need it. Urgent, sustained relief is to help families rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
Media contacts:
Zenny Awing
Communications Officer
People in Need
Tel.: +63 966 422 5012
Email: zenny.awing@peopleinneed.net
Pascal Arthaud
Country Director
People in Need
Tel.: +33 7 82 41 29 93
Email: pascal.arthaud@peopleinneed.net