Our response to Typhoons Goni & Vamco in the Philippines
Donate nowOxfam’s Typhoons Goni and Vamco (Ulysses) response snapshot:
- At least two million people or 400,000 families have been affected, with thousands of homes damaged or destroyed, and at least 20 people killed, according to the latest government figures.
- The intense storm also caused major damage to crops, with an estimated 20,000 farmers impacted.
- Oxfam has been trialling a new disaster relief system in various parts of the country. B-READY identifies vulnerable people in several communities who are likely to be affected when a typhoon sweeps through their community. Once the exact path of the typhoon is confirmed, cash transfers to those people are then triggered to enable them to prepare by securing their properties and ensuring they have enough provisions to get through the first few days.
How you can help Oxfam’s response in the Philippines:
By donating to our International Crisis Fund, you allow us to respond rapidly to emergencies around the globe, like the destruction in the Philippines. As soon as disaster strikes, we’ve got the funds at hand to move quickly – and save lives. Please donate today to support our vital, life-saving work.12 NOV 2020
Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses) makes landfall in the Philippines
Typhoon “Ulysses”, international name “Vamco”, has made its third landfall in the vicinity of General Nakar, Quezon at on November 12, according to the Philippine weather bureau PAGASA.
Mirriam Solleza, Oxfam Philippines WASH Advisor, describes the situation on the ground in nearby Infanta, Quezon, where she and her family reside:
“There are many houses totally washed out in my village. Toilet facilities are damaged.
“My house is submerged in floodwater and so our drinking water is contaminated.
“We don’t have safe drinking water in my village. Wells are completely submerged.
“Our livestock and rice, bananas, and vegetables are badly damaged. We were supposed to continue harvesting next week. This is no longer possible.”
The Typhoon is now heading towards Vietnam.
2 NOV 2020
More than 2 million people impacted as Super Typhoon Goni sweeps across the Philippines
Oxfam is working with local partners and coordinating with local governments in the Philippines to assess the damage and needs of affected communities following Super Typhoon Goni’s four landfalls yesterday and early this morning.
The world’s strongest typhoon this year has now passed through the Philippines and weakened after hitting the densely populated capital, Manila, early this morning.
Oxfam Philippines’ Humanitarian Lead Rhoda Avila said:
“We have experienced terrible wind speeds, lashing rains and devastating flooding. Buildings have been destroyed and whole villages are under water and mudflows.
“We will be conducting assessments of affected areas with our partners as soon as we can get access, but conditions are very difficult. Roads are flooded and power is down in many areas making communications with some parts impossible.
“We also have to work with the threat of COVID-19 transmission in mind to protect both our emergency response teams and the people they are helping.”
Oxfam is working with local partners Humanitarian Response Consortium, Aksyon sa Kahandaan sa Kalamidad at Klima (AKKMA) and Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), and People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN).
Super Typhoon Goni (known locally as Rolly) is the Philippines’ 18th tropical cyclone for 2020.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Siony is expected to make landfall in Cagayan Valley (in the northeast of the island of Luzon) later this week, according to the state weather bureau PAGASA. Cagayan Valley is the same area ravaged by Mangkhut, a powerful super typhoon, in September 2018, the strongest storm that year.
An average of 20 tropical cyclones form within or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility each year. Goni is the third consecutive typhoon in two weeks.