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

Published: 25th November 2020


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.

Photo Credit: Jhie Durana/Oxfam

Oxfam, together with partners, assists community members in constructing water stations to provide immediate access to potable water and in repairing water sources in San Isidro Village - one of the most heavily affected communities by Super Typhoon Goni  Photo Credit: Jhie Durana/Oxfam

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

Mirriam Solleza, farmer and Oxfam staff , living in Infanta, Quezon

“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.

Notes to editors

  • Oxfam has been working in the Philippines for more than 30 years, together with 15 partners, we have reached over 105,000 of the poorest and most vulnerable people in 6 provinces across the country, with life-saving assistance including responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we have provided food and cash assistance, as well as clean water and sanitation to communities affected by crises.
  • The humanitarian response Consortium for the Philippines for Super Typhoon Goni, which is led by Oxfam, consists of Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA), World Vision Philippines, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network, and Coastal CORE, with support from the EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid - ECHO.  It is currently funded by 1.3 million euros from ECHO to assist families affected by Super Typhoon Goni until April of 2021.
  • The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports that Super Typhoon Goni alone has affected over 2 million people nationwide, and left Php 12 billion ($ 240 M) worth of damage to infrastructure, including 170,000 houses damaged. Days after, typhoon Vamco (local name Ulysses) entered the Philippines, which further aggravated the situation of families barely coping with Goni.

Contact information

Spokespersons available, please contact :

Patricia Miranda | Oxfam Philippines : +639202814009 | PMiranda@oxfam.org.uk

 

In the UK: Tania Corbett | Press Officer  | +44 7824 824 359 | tcorbett1@oxfam.org.uk

in Australia: Lily Partland | Senior Media Coordinator | M: +61 418 118 687 |  lilyp@oxfam.org.au

For updates, please follow @Oxfam 

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