HI assisting people affected by Typhoon Goni, the most powerful storm of 2020 in the Philippines

Typhoon Goni (also known as Typhoon Rolly) is recorded as the most powerful of the 2020 typhoons to hit the Philippines. Typhoon Goni made landfall on 1 November, causing winds of up to 225 kmph, heavy rain and landslides. Some 1.9 million people were affected in eight of the country’s 17 regions: Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Car and NCR. More than 30,000 houses have been damaged and the storm has left a trail of devastation. 

In conjunction with Shelter Box and Simon of Cyrene, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) has launched an emergency response to assist victims of the disaster. The organization is distributing 'temporary shelter' kits (including plastic sheets, rope, a solar-powered lamp, etc.), hygiene kits (soap, mosquito nets, etc.) and sanitary kits (sanitary towels, solar-powered lamps, and baby nappies) to more than 5,000 families living in the areas of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur. HI also plans to make small cash transfers to 500 families affected by the disaster. The needs are immense. Myrna Teope, 58, who lives in the municipality of San Miguel (Catanduanes), told us about her experience:

"The typhoon damaged our home and destroyed our crops of sweet potatoes and peanuts. I have nothing left to eat or sell, and I'm very worried about my grandchildren, who live in my house. The bridge that connected our village to the city center was destroyed. To get there, we have to get on a small raft and cross the river. We wait for food and we line up at the riverside to make sure we are not forgotten. We haven't had enough to eat since the typhoon hit. I feel incredibly angry about the storm. We need help,"

says Myrna Teope.