Revised Emergency Appeal for the Philippines: Response to Recent Typhoons and Floods

Operational Strategy Revision: Philippines Typhoons and Floods

The Emergency Appeal (MDRPH056) was published on 30 October 2024. It aimed to support people affected by Severe Tropical Storm Trami (Kristine) and Super Typhoon Kong-Rey (Leon). The appeal highlighted the ongoing typhoon season and the risk of more tropical cyclones hitting the Philippines.

Since then, four more tropical cyclones have occurred: Typhoon Yinxing (Marce), STS Toraji (Nika), Typhoon Ofel, and Super Typhoon Pepito. These storms have affected northern, eastern, and central regions of the Philippines, increasing the need for humanitarian aid.

The Operational Strategy for the Emergency Appeal was released on 8 November 2024. However, the situation has changed rapidly, showing the need for an inclusive and flexible response to meet the urgent needs of affected communities.

The revised emergency appeal, titled “Philippines – Typhoons and Floods,” was published on 15 November 2024. The key changes in this Operational Strategy are:

1. It now considers all six recent tropical cyclones: Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.
2. The Emergency Appeal and Operational Strategy have been renamed to reflect the broader impact on communities.
3. The targeted population has increased by 27%, from 71,250 to 97,250 people (19,450 families). This includes communities in 16 provinces, up from 8. New provinces included are Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Aurora, and Apayao.
4. New interventions focus on emergency shelter and school repairs, particularly in Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora.
5. The funding requirement for the IFRC secretariat has increased from CHF 5.3 million to CHF 5.8 million.
6. The total funding request from the Philippine Red Cross has grown from CHF 7.5 million to CHF 10 million. This includes CHF 5.8 million from the Emergency Appeal, CHF 1.2 million from domestic sources, and CHF 3 million from bilateral sources.

The Philippines experiences about 20 tropical cyclones each year. Within 29 days, it faced six storms, including three Super Typhoons. The cyclone season is ongoing, and more disasters may occur soon. Thus, preparedness and quick action are essential.

The Philippine Red Cross, alongside partners and humanitarian organizations, is monitoring the situation and providing aid. However, the condition may worsen, possibly requiring more resources. If necessary, another revision of the Emergency Appeal may be needed to enhance response efforts.