IsraAID Philippines responds to Typhoon Mangkhut
The Israeli humanitarian NGO’s local branch will distribute relief, conduct needs assessment.
IsraAID Philippines, the Israeli humanitarian aid NGO’s local branch, will deploy an emergency response team to the area worst-affected by Typhoon Mangkhut, known locally as Ompong. The typhoon has ravaged northern parts of Luzon, the country’s largest and most-populated island. At least 65 people have been killed with more than 590,000 affected. More than 210,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
The emergency response team, made up of Israeli and Filipino staff members and volunteers from IsraAID Philippines, will conduct a rapid needs assessment, distribute vitally-needed relief items and offer psychological support to the affected population. The team is currently travelling to Bengeut province and will commence relief activities tomorrow, 18th September.
IsraAID first deployed a team to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, which caused over 6,000 fatalities and affected more than 16 million people. IsraAID’s team concentrated on the heavily-affected province of Leyte, providing emergency medical care, reconstruction support, livelihood rehabilitation through agriculture, and mental health and psychosocial support.
After the initial emergency phase, IsraAID transitions to long-term programming, aimed at accompanying communities on the journey to a sustainable recovery. In the Philippines, IsraAID’s team is currently providing psychological support training to teachers, police officers and other service providers, empowering low-income women to gain a livelihood through beekeeping, building regional emergency response teams from national, trained-volunteers, and training service providers to combat Human Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence.
