Tropical Storm Nalgae (Paeng) Response

Tropical storm Nalgae (locally named as  ‘Paeng’) has impacted millions of people across 70 provinces in the Philippines. The tragic combination of continuous rains caused by Nalgae, deforestation, and silted rivers triggered landslides and floods that claimed over 162 lives. The huge number of deaths is concentrated in Maguindanao where people were buried alive in the night of October 27 due an unexpected landslide.

 Over 1.5 million or 6.2 million people were affected by Typhoon Nalgae many of whom were displaced and submerged in floodwaters. Across the affected regions, the typhoon left many communities in the Western Visayas (particularly in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, and Iloilo) and in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (particularly in the province of Maguindanao) needing humanitarian assistance.  Save the Children estimates that 2 million are children.

Save the Children has provided relief assistance in the province of Capiz in Western Visayas, Maguindanao and Lanao del Norte provinces in Mindanao. We have:

• Distributed 1,115 household kits, 1000 family hygiene kits and water, 1073 back-to-school kits, 9 Early Childhood Care and Development kits
• Set-up temporary learning spaces for children in four schools in Maguindanao
• Distributed multipurpose cash assistance to 34 households
• Provided hot meals
• Provided mental health support to children in priority sites in Maguindanao province.

 Through the combined support of our donors, including those that donated through GlobalGiving, we have reached  more than 8,000 individuals.

Helping Children in Need

Aia* (not her real name) is a student in Bahit Elementary School, Panit-an, Capiz. Barangay Bahit is one of the areas worst hit by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) in the province of Capiz. More than 80% of the houses in the barangay, including Aia's* house, were destroyed by the massive floods.

“I was scared because the wind was blowing so strong. We evacuated immediately because our house was flooded," Aia* said.

Aia* grabbed her clothes and used old tarpaulin sheets to protect their belongings from the rain. Then they moved to her grandmother’s home before things got worse.

“When we returned to our home, our floor was filled with mud,” Aia* said. “I saw traces of dirt on the walls about as tall as my shoulder. Some of our belongings got wet, including my school uniform, so my mother immediately washed them and hung them to dry. My parents are very busy cleaning the house so I help them by looking after my baby brother.”

Aia* was one of the 500 learners in the Municipality of Panit-an, Province of Capiz, who received learning supplies from Save the Children Philippines. This is part of the organization’s efforts to help speed up the recovery of families and children affected by the recent storm.

“I am so happy to see what was inside my bag,” Aia* said. “I am so excited to come back to school and use my new notebooks. These will surely help me do good in my studies.”

Thanks to your generosity and compassion, children like Aia* who were affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng were able to slowly regain their lives back.