Aid to the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda

On September 15, Typhoon Ompong/Mangkhut whipped through the Philippines, ravaging the northern parts of Luzon, the country’s largest and most-populated island.

Just two days later, the IsraAID Philippines emergency response team arrived in Benguet, a province badly affected by the typhoon.

According to reports, some 127 individuals lost their lives in the Philippines as a result of the storm, and more than 190,000 people were displaced from their homes to evacuation centers. The storm caused secondary landslides and flooding impacting over 590,000 residents. The Tuguegarao airport was hit especially hard, severely limiting access to more isolated locations hit by the storm, complicating humanitarian aid provisions as waters continued to rise.

The IsraAID team reached the Benguet region and conducted rapid assessments together with partners, reaching isolated indigenous municipalities around Benguet that were previously unreachable due to mudslides. In some cases, IsraAID's delegation was the first to reach some municipalities where assessments were conducted. Local community members thanked the team for coming, “you guys got here so fast…you have no idea how badly you’re needed.”

Psychological First Aid

Following the initial needs assessment, IsraAID psychosocial support counselors were dispatched to the Itogon Evacuation Center and established child-friendly spaces to host emotional support activities to children whose homes were destroyed. The team worked with youth in a specialized three-day activity to allow them to express themselves and process their feelings during these times of extreme vulnerability.

The staff later built a specialized training program, partnering with a group of local teachers, student aides and NGO workers to provide them with psychological first aid tools and curricula for implementation. IsraAID Philippines will continue to work in the area by teaming up with members of the community to provide sustainable long-term solutions for the people of Benguet.

Emergency Relief Distribution

In close coordination with municipal, provincial and national governments, IsraAID delivered much-needed hygiene kits to an estimated 500+ people living in secluded townships high in the Cordillera Central mountain range. The kits were assembled locally and packed in eco-friendly bags that can be reused by beneficiaries -- families whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the recent typhoon.

In addition, a local doctor traveled with the team to assess emergency needs and provide basic triage and first aid to patients.

Thank you for your support as IsraAID Philippines continues to respond to changing needs on the ground!