Tropical Storm Trami: HI to bring assistance to affected communities

For several days, the Philippines has been in the grips of a violent tropical storm. Torrential rain has caused devastating flooding, with mudslides and floodwaters sweeping away houses and farmlands in their path. At least 141 people have lost their lives and a further 21 are still missing.

In the wake of the devastation, the distress of the people

According to the Ministry of Social Protection and the Environment, more than half a million people have been displaced by flooding caused by the heavy rains that have devastated hundreds of communities in the north of the country. 7,000,000 people are in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
Amalia, a 54-year-old mother of 13 from Libon explains:

“The loss of our livelihoods has broken our hearts. After losing everything in the floods, how will we ever get it back and rebuild our lives?”

Amalia and her children are now living in a makeshift shelter on the street, as her house is still underwater days after the passage of Trami, known locally as severe tropical storm Kristine.

The situation is even more alarming for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Myrna's husband, aged 55, has a disability and type 2 diabetes:

“I'm worried about my husband's health. Since the floods, we don't have the money to buy him insulin and other medicine. I'm cleaning our house as best I can, but he can't leave the emergency reception center for people affected by the floods because he doesn't have an assistive device”.

Over $4 billion in losses and damage

In addition to the flooding and evacuations, the affected towns and municipalities have reported damage to electricity and water supplies, as well as the roads linking the farms to the markets. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's situation report on Trami, as of October 28, 2024, agricultural losses had reached over $2.5 billion, affecting over 120,000 acres of farmland and more than 58,000 farmers. The extent of damage to infrastructure has now exceeded $1.5 billion.

HI assessing immediate needs

HI and its partners are currently in the towns of Cagayan and Bicol (Luzon) to assess the immediate needs of the communities. With the support of the Start Network and the European Union's civil protection mechanism, HI is preparing to provide vital assistance in the form of food security and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to families and communities affected by the storm.