Emergency teams have begun assessing the damage caused by Typhoon Haima in the Philippines, which has affected an estimated 2.7 million people and caused the evacuation of 90,000 people from their homes.
Heavy rains and ferocious winds of up to 225 km/h have caused significant damage to infrastructure, houses and crops. There have been cases of flashfloods in low-lying areas and landslides in upland communities.
International aid agency CARE is working with local partners in affected areas to provide immediate relief to families who fled their homes with few belongings to evacuation centres in schools, churches, and gymnasiums.
CARE’s Country Director in the Philippines, David Gazashvili said: “There is still a complete power blackout across the most severely affected areas, which is hampering relief efforts. In this type of emergency, it really is a race against time to get immediate relief to those who have lost everything and ensure families can stay safe and healthy.”
Many of the provinces are still recovering from powerful Typhoon Sarika, which caused severe damage to houses and crops earlier this week. Initial reports indicated over 400 hectares of agricultural land was destroyed.
“It will be another day or two before we get a true picture of just how much destruction has been caused,” Mr. Gazashvili said.
CARE has worked in the Philippines since 1949, providing emergency relief when disaster strikes and helping communities prepare for disasters. CARE's past responses in the Philippines have included Typhoon Bopha in 2012, Haiyan in 2013, Hagupit in 2014, Koppu and Melor in 2015. CARE continues to assist Typhoon Haiyan-affected communities to rebuild their livelihoods.
You can learn more about CARE's work in the Philippines here.