Typhoon Goni: Oxfam and partners help nearly 50K displaced people in Bicol, Philippines

In response to the onslaught of super Typhoon Goni, which hit the Philippines earlier this month and left hundreds of thousands without a home, Oxfam together with international and local partners is supporting 49,000 people in the hardest-hit areas of the Bicol region with lifesaving aid.

“We have already reached 8,550 individuals with potable water, water treatment tablets, hygiene kits, food packs, and cooked food through community kitchens, sleeping kits, solar lamps, and kitchen essentials. We are also distributing desperately needed cash to 600 households,” said Lot Felizco, Oxfam Country Director in the Philippines.

The multi-agency massive response aims to provide immediate shelter, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, food, and cash assistance, as well as protection to the most vulnerable people in the disaster-struck region of Bicol, including the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.

Typhoon Goni, followed by Typhoon Vamco a week later, devastated the lives of more than three million people in eight regions of the Philippines. Hundreds of thousands of people now displaced, are in dire need of clean water, sanitation facilities, and cash to buy food and shelter grade material.

The climate crisis has fuelled some of these frequent and extremes weather disasters. In October, the country was battered by seven consecutive typhoons that ripped apart homes and livelihoods and left unprecedented destruction in more than 30 provinces. 

“These typhoons may have already left the country but their aftermath havoc, including disease outbreaks and food insecurity, is far from over. Recovery will be a long journey for many communities living in poverty and are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change”, added Felizco.

The long-term impacts on farmers, who have been reeling from successive emergencies, is bleaker. Their crops and livelihoods, particularly in the “rice bowl” areas of central and North Luzon island which have been hit hard by the typhoon, will be decimated. “Our livestock and rice, bananas, and vegetables are badly damaged. We were supposed to continue harvesting next week. This is no longer possible”, says Mirriam Solleza, farmer and Oxfam staff who lives in Infanta, Quezon, with her family.

“My house is totally submerged in floodwater and our drinking water is contaminated. Many houses are totally washed out, and toilet facilities are damaged. We don’t have safe drinking water in my village. Wells are completely submerged,” added Solleza.

With more typhoons expected to land by the end of the year, thousands of families who are without safe shelter, or emergency essentials — will be more prone to getting diseases including COVID19, unless humanitarian agencies are able to act fast.  

Oxfam urgently needs 1 million GBP to support 50,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by Super Typhoon Goni.