Photo shows EU Humanitarian Aid Expert Arlynn Aquino on the ground
Photo from Arlynn Aquino ECHO European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid
The European Union has announced €1.3 million (almost 63 million Philippine Peso) in rapid humanitarian aid funding to deliver emergency relief assistance to families affected by typhoon Goni which wreaked havoc across large parts of Luzon, the Philippines’ most populous island and home to the national capital, Manila.
Janez Lenarčič, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, said: “This contribution will support the Filipino people via our humanitarian partners on the ground who are providing critical support to those hit hardest by Typhoon Goni. It will not only cover the immediate needs of the most affected populations but will also help the Filipino people restore their homes and livelihoods so they can get back on their feet as soon as possible. The EU stands in solidarity with those affected in the Philippines.”
Typhoon Goni is the 4th tropical cyclone hitting the Philippines in 2020. It has so far affected more than 2 million people across five regions in the central and northern parts of the country, including Manila. Over 500,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, seeking shelter, including in government-run evacuation centers.
The EU funding will support humanitarian aid partners who are already on the ground to respond to the pressing needs of those most in need. This includes shelter, food and livelihood assistance, as well as access to clean water and health care.
The funding is part of the EU’s Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT).
Background
Considered the strongest storm to hit the archipelago nation since the devastating typhoon Haiyan in 2013, Goni – locally known as ‘Rolly’ – made landfall in the early morning hours of November 1 in the island province of Catanduanes in the Bicol region, with maximum sustained winds of 225 kilometres per hour near the centre. With most parts of heavily hit areas remaining inaccessible and assessments underway, the true scale of the damage is currently unclear.
Initial assessments, however, suggest that up to 90% of homes in Virac town, located in Catanduanes along the storm’s path, have been damaged or destroyed. Widespread power outages and disruptions to telecommunications networks have been reported. An EU humanitarian aid expert has been deployed to the affected areas to further assess the situation and needs.
The acute large emergency response tool (ALERT) is used to respond to large natural disasters where over 100,000 people or over 50% of the population are affected. Depending on the type of disaster, the aim is to allocate funds within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of the emergency.
