Attachments
In Numbers
Over 1.6 million people reached with DSWD family food packs through WFP’s transport support
109,150 people in four provinces reached with cash assistance
6,000 people in eight provinces provided with daily internet connectivity
7 most affected provinces assessed
Situation update
- Between late October and mid-November 2024, the Philippines was hit by six consecutive tropical cyclones, three of which were super typhoons (wind speed exceeding 185 km/h). First to make landfall in Luzon on 24 October, severe tropical storm Kristine (international name: Trami) triggered widespread flooding and landslides in 17 regions, with Bicol being one of the most affected.
- This was followed shortly by super typhoon (STY) Leon (Kong-Rey), typhoons Marce (Yinxing) and Nika (Toraji), and STYs Ofel (Usagi) and Pepito (Man-Yi). Heavy floods, landslides, and storm surges brought by these successive cyclones caused extensive damage in Luzon provinces heavily impacted by STS Kristine, including Albay, Aurora, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes. Cumulatively, more than 15 million people were affected, and over 600,000 were displaced.
- The Government, supported by the humanitarian community including WFP, is leading the response at the national and sub-national levels. As of 19 December, nearly PHP 2.3 billion (US$39 million) worth of assistance (consisting of family food packs and essential non-food items) from the Government and humanitarian partners was provided to affected families. On the ground, local authorities conducted clearing operations and restoration of water, electricity, and telecommunications services.
- Complementing these efforts, the Humanitarian Country Team published the updated Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) appeal on 5 December. The HNP seeks US$42.4 million to provide life-saving assistance and facilitate early recovery for 535,000 people in nine severely affected Luzon provinces.
Highlights
- After STS Kristine’s landfall, WFP swiftly mobilized its resources to assist government-led response efforts. WFP’s support entails needs assessments and monitoring, logistics and telecommunications augmentation, technical assistance, and cash support.
- Through its anticipatory action (AA) mechanism and the Government’s existing social assistance programme, WFP is expanding its cash assistance to reach 484,000 people in Albay, Aurora, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes. Cash-based transfers are now being implemented across these five priority provinces. So far, 109,150 people have received cash support through bank transfers.
- Of the total updated HNP appeal amount, WFP requires US$10 million to address urgent food security needs through cash assistance and augment logistics and telecommunications response assets of the Government.