CARE Philippines: Emergency Relief Philippines | NGO Philippines

[October 23, 2024 – Manila] – Tropical storm Trami continues to devastate six regions across the Philippines, with Southern Luzon particularly hard-hit. Homes and infrastructure have been submerged. Landslides and widespread flooding devastated farming and fishing areas. Over 400,000 individuals – many still reeling from the devastation of Typhoon Yagi last month – are now grappling with another disaster.

“CARE Philippines, in collaboration with other humanitarian organizations, is on the ground, conducting needs assessment and ready to deliver immediate assistance to those most affected by Tropical Storm Trami. Our primary concern is for the most vulnerable, especially women and girls, who face heightened risks of gender-based violence and neglect as access to essential services like food, water, shelter, and healthcare has been severely disrupted.

Our top priority is to address the urgent needs of those hardest hit. We are deploying rapid assessment teams and working closely with our local partners through the Humanitarian Partnership Platform and authorities to provide life-saving support and ensure that the protection of women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by disasters, remains central to our response.

To effectively respond to this crisis and support recovery efforts, we need the collaboration of all sectors—government, civil society, and the private sector. The scale of need is vast, and only through coordinated efforts can we help affected communities and prevent further loss of life.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mary Therese L. Norbe, CARE Philippines Communications Specialist
Email: marytherese.norbe@care.org

Note to Editors:

CARE Philippines has been providing humanitarian and development support since 1949, consistently working to uplift vulnerable communities. The Philippines continues to be among the most disaster-prone countries globally, and CARE remains at the forefront, delivering life-saving assistance to those most in need. According to the World Risk Index 2023, the Philippines remains the most at-risk country with the least capacity to respond to natural disasters.

Mothers line up to get goto for their family to eat at the San Jose National High School evacuation center in Brgy. San Roque, Malilipot, Albay.

A total of 4,726 evacuees temporarily staying at eight evacuation centers in Camalig and Malilipot, Albay enjoyed the comfort that hot goto or organic rice with meat porridge provides on June 17, 18, 25 and 26.

The Tarabang para sa Bicol (TABI), with support from CARE Philippines, mobilized the members of the Tarabang Youth volunteers (TYVs), Sining Banwa, Disaster Preparedness Committees, barangay officials, private individuals, and some evacuees in preparing, cooking, and distributing the hot meals.

The evacuees who hailed from 6 barangays have been displaced from their communities since the start of the volcano’s magmatic unrest early in June. TABI observed that the affected population struggles to cook for their daily sustenance and survives on canned food. Meals like goto made with organic rice and protein provide nutrition and a break from the usual canned or instant meals they receive.

“Cooking together also helps them, especially, the mothers, ensure that their children will have something delicious and healthy to eat”, shared Arlo Brizuela, TABI’s Office-in-Charge.

In these feeding activities, their group observed how the displaced endured the uncomfortable spaces, tents, and classrooms, especially with the intense heat brought by the hot weather. Water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities are also lacking which brings various concerns on the safety of drinking water, and the possibility of related diseases.

Jocelyn Naga, a member of the Disaster Preparedness Committee in Brgy. Tumpa, Camalig, and an evacuee staying at Taladong Elementary School mentioned that some people are already getting sick, especially the children, due to their current living conditions.

The situation remains uncertain. On July 4, the DOST-PHIVOLCS reiterated that Alert Level 3 (increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption) still currently prevails over Mayon Volcano. It is strongly recommended that the areas inside the 6-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone remain evacuated and that communities within the 7 and 8-kilometer radius be prepared in case the volcanic activity worsens.

Several of the evacuated rely on farming as their source of livelihood. They fear that they will not be able to go back immediately to tilling and providing their families with the necessities to recover because of the losses that their displacement brought about.

CARE Philippines and TABI work together to come up with a more comprehensive humanitarian response to address the immediate needs of the most vulnerable affected population. Food, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, and non-food items such as kitchen and sleeping kits are some of the basic essentials that evacuees aspire to make their living conditions inside the evacuation centers tolerable.

“We plan to source support from our global partners for a humanitarian response that is also geared towards recovery, especially, of those who will have the most difficult time to bounce back and resume their livelihood”, said Jerome Lanit, CARE Philippines Emergency Coordinator.

Contact Person:

Jerome L. Lanit, Emergency Coordinator

jerome.lanit@care.org, +639175109417

Arlo Brizuela, OIC

+639165006491

Highlight of the activity is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together towards the successful implementation of the project. From left: Mr. Gerardo F. Cuadrasal, Jr. , Municipal Administrator of Calape, Bohol representing  Hon. Mayor Julius Caesar F. Herrera; Hon. Mayor Diosdado Gementiza, Jr. of San Isidro, Bohol; Christopher Matthew Ilagan of Cargill; David Gazashvili of CARE Philippines and Mr. Brendan P. Trasmonte, Regional Manager III for Region VII, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)

Manila, Philippines (September 26,  2022) — Nine months since Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) felled over three million coconut trees in the province of Bohol, Cargill Philippines partners with CARE Philippines, Cebu-Bohol Relief and Rehabilitation Center (CRRC), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) to replant 100,000 coconut seedlings in devastated local communities through the RISE Coco (Recovery Intervention for Severely Affected Coconut Farming Communities of Bohol by Super Typhoon Odette) project. More than 10 million coconut trees were damaged in several areas nationwide and gravely affected farming families whose livelihood was dependent on producing copra.

farming families whose livelihood was dependent on producing copra.

The Bohol provincial PCA already pledged to initially replace felled trees with 500,000 dwarf variety seedlings in February. This variety takes three to four years to bear fruit compared to the hybrid variety which takes five years to yield. However, with no other means to provide for their families, farmers are already finding it difficult to bounce back while waiting for harvest. The available coconut seedlings were very limited and were allocated to only a few municipalities. To bridge this gap, coconut farmers supported by this project decided to establish their own community-based seed beds to propagate coconut seedlings for re-planting.

Through the RISE Coco Project, 1,000 coconut farming households in the municipalities of Calape, Catigbian, Loon, and San Isidro will be able to gradually recover and sustain their coconut farming livelihoods. The project focuses on replacing the damaged coconut trees, training the farmers on sustainable agriculture, providing alternative livelihoods while waiting for the coconut trees to bear fruit, and organizing the farmers into cooperatives to have better access to markets and corporate buyers.

The project was officially launched on September 15, 2022, at the Calape Forest Resort and was attended by almost 100 participants from the local government offices, PCA officials, Cargill, CARE, CRRC and farmer leaders in the province. As the first coconut disaster rehabilitation program in the province spearheaded by the private sector, the project is strongly supported by the provincial government of Bohol and the municipal mayors of the four covered municipalities. PCA, including its regional and provincial offices, also expressed commitment to provide technical assistance during the project implementation.

PCA Region 7 Manager Brendan Trasmonte acknowledged the critical and challenging role that the PCA will play in the success of the project as it needs quality seed nuts and seedlings and the technical knowledge of coconut farmers to sustain and expand their sources of income beyond coconut farming.   

This project partnership is anchored on a global agreement between Cargill and CARE International to work together to implement programs that would rehabilitate livelihoods impacted by disasters, support recovery and promote food security of affected farming communities.

“It’s our way of supporting the rehabilitation of the livelihoods of the coconut farmers of Bohol severely impacted by the climate-induced Supertyphoon Odette – the same coconut farmers who have been our reliable suppliers of copra over the years which we in turn crush at our General Santos City plant into world-class crude coconut oil,” said Cargill Philippines’ Corporate Affairs Director Christopher Matthew Ilagan.

Cargill’s Copra & Palm Origination Commercial Director, Jonathan Sumpaico added, “Cargill is committed to grow with the communities where we live and work.   The RISE Coco program, as part of our broader partnership with CARE Philippines, allows us to put that commitment into action by ensuring the farmers affected by the Supertyphoon produce sustainably grown copra and continue to benefit from responsible economic development as our partners.”

Meanwhile, CARE Philippines Country Director David Gazashvili sees the project as a way to develop the resiliency of coconut farming communities against the drastic effects of climate change.

“Farmers will be trained to increase their capacities to better prepare for disasters alongside local government structures. This implies ensuring the availability of food for their family and community and ability to cope and bounce back through other sources of income and immediate government support”, he said.

The RISE Coco project is led by CARE Philippines and is being implemented with CRRC with active participation from Cargill employees across all project areas.

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About Cargill

Cargill helps the world’s food system work for you. We connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients and families with daily essentials – from the foods they eat to the floors they walk on. Our team around the world innovates with purpose, empowering our partners and communities as we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way. This includes 2,000 colleagues across 27 locations in the Philippines, where we’ve been working since 1948 to make our global vision a local reality. Visit https://www.cargill.ph/en/home to know more.

From feed that reduces methane emissions to waste-based renewable fuels, the possibilities are boundless. But our values remain the same. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing. It’s how Cargill has met the needs of the people we call neighbors and the planet we call home for 157 years – and how we’ll do so for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

About CARE
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. In 2020, CARE worked in over 100 countries, reaching more than 90 million people through 1,300 projects. To learn more, visit www.care.org.

South Sudan continues to be one of the deadliest places to be an aid worker, according to
analysis done by CARE International on data from the Humanitarian Outcomes Aid Worker
Security Database. Forty-four aid workers have lost their lives globally since the beginning of
this year, including 11 in South Sudan, 8 in Afghanistan and 7 in Myanmar. Not only are
these three countries among the most dangerous places for aid workers, they are also
incredibly challenging places for citizens, with nearly 40 million people facing hunger across
these countries.

Abel Whande, CARE South Sudan Country Director, said, “South Sudan is facing its worst
hunger crisis since it gained independence 11 years ago. That the very people committed to
easing suffering and supporting the most vulnerable continue to be killed, is horrifying.
Failing to ensure the safety of humanitarians means disruptions to vital aid operations, and
with 7.74 million people in South Sudan facing acute hunger, these disruptions could mean
the difference between life and death for some. And this year, the knock-on effects of the
Ukraine crisis are exacerbating the situation, with sharp increases in the cost of food and
fuel causing more pain and suffering.”

The single deadliest day for aid workers in 2022 so far occurred in Afghanistan, when eight
polio vaccinators were killed while conducting home visits on 24 February. Polio vaccinators
have frequently been targeted in Afghanistan, one of only two countries where wild
poliovirus is endemic – the other country being Pakistan.

CARE Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Advocacy Advisor, Mélissa Cornet, said, “It’s devastating
that eight aid workers have died in Afghanistan this year. They were doing incredibly
important work in a country that is in the midst of a complex humanitarian crisis – nearly 19
million people face acute hunger, the economy has all but collapsed, affected communities
are still reeling from last month’s deadly earthquake and the price of food and everyday
essentials has skyrocketed over the past year. Women and girls are often disproportionately
affected in times of crisis and this crisis is no exception. We continue to hear reports of girls
being married at a young age just to help the family survive. It’s essential that aid workers –
including women humanitarian workers who are so critical to reaching women and girls –
are protected, so they can continue carrying out lifesaving work.”

So far in Myanmar in 2022, seven humanitarian workers have died. “One million people are
now displaced in Myanmar and over 13 million people in the country face hunger. It is
crucial that aid workers are protected, and humanitarian organisations have unimpeded
access to affected communities to carry out vital work,” said Nate Rabe, Country Director
for CARE International in Myanmar.

Three aid workers have died in attacks in Ukraine this year – the first aid worker deaths in
the country since 2014. “The security situation for aid workers has deteriorated sharply
since the escalation in conflict in February this year. With a third of Ukrainians displaced
from their homes and millions still inside the country, it’s more important than ever that the
safety of humanitarian workers is preserved so they can carry out critical work,” said
Richard Simpson, CARE Country Representative Ukraine.

“While the situation is incredibly difficult and precarious for so many in Ukraine, tragically,
we are witnessing several donor governments re-directing overseas development
assistance, especially to respond to the crisis in their own countries, which indirectly
impacts funding for other humanitarian crises. As a result, humanitarian appeals of
countries experiencing the worst hunger and famine-conditions, including Somalia, Mali,
Niger, Afghanistan and South Sudan, are drastically under-funded,” said Delphine Pinault,
Humanitarian Policy Advocacy Coordinator & UN Representative for CARE International.
This year’s World Humanitarian Day theme #ItTakesAVillage is inspired by the saying ‘It
takes a village to raise a child.’ Similarly, it takes a village to support a person in a
humanitarian crisis – aid agencies, local volunteers and emergency services come together
to provide urgent health care, shelter, food, protection, water, livelihoods and much more.
Ms Pinault said, “And with the world facing an unprecedented hunger crisis, the
international donor community plays a crucial role in ensuring funding decisions are strictly
needs-based and not politically driven.”

Notes to the editor
Analysis is based on the Humanitarian Outcomes’ Aid Worker Security database
where incidents are defined as deliberate acts of violence affecting aid workers, such
as killings, kidnappings, and attacks that result in serious
injury: https://aidworkersecurity.org/incidents/. Numbers in the database for 2022
are provisional for the first six months of the year, with full official annual figures
released at the end of calendar years. 2022 figures are available here:
https://aidworkersecurity.org/

There have been 73 major attacks on aid workers so far in 2022 with 44 deaths this
year (numbers accurate as of 1 August). The majority of deaths, 95%, involved
national staff (42 out of 44 deaths were national staff. The two international staff
were killed in South Sudan and Mali). South Sudan tops the fatalities list so far in
2022 with 11 deaths.

Funding of humanitarian response plans https://hum-insight.info/
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organisation
fighting global poverty. CARE has more than seven decades of experience
helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a
crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed.
CARE places special focus on women and children, who are often
disproportionately affected by disasters.

To learn more, visit www.care-international.org
For media enquiries contact:
Suzy Sainovski
Senior Humanitarian Communications Coordinator, CARE International