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Asia

Philippines

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FRAGILITY RANKING

50th out of 180 countries


Overview

The Philippines is experiencing strong economic growth, decreasing levels of poverty and achievements it can be proud of in health, education, gender equality, water, sanitation, and hunger over the past year. In spite of this, rising inequality among the 100 million strong population looms large, with a high number of out of school youth, frequent disease outbreaks, and chronic underdevelopment in the Mindanao region threatening to undercut the progress made to date. Much of the natural resources that enrich this archipelago of islands are also under pressure from overuse, degradation, and the growing threat of climate change. With immense coastlines and mountainous terrain, the Philippines is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, flooding, and landslides.

The Philippines have been hit by 565 natural disasters since 1990 that have claimed the lives of more than 70,000 Filipinos. Millions are left homeless by each extreme weather event, with their livelihoods destroyed and clean water and food in short supply. And the cycle continues – each year an average of 20 typhoons make landfall, leaving affected communities repeatedly grappling with hunger, disease, and chronic poverty.

Not all Filipinos are sharing in the benefits of the country’s economic rise. The Philippines is home to over 14 million indigenous people who are particularly vulnerable to some of the changes that can accompany rapid economic growth. Deforestation and mining, for example, can cause them to lose their homes, food sources, and livelihoods. Insecurity over land tenure can create conflict between indigenous groups, businesses, and government

In 2017, conflict in the city of Marawi in Mindanao caused over 350,000 people to flee their homes, leaving over a thousand dead, with property damages exceeding €300 million. Two years later, some 60,000 people yet to return home, living in transitory centers or in neighboring host communities. Persistent armed conflict between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), militant groups, clans and inter-ethnic tensions have led to frequent short and long-term population displacement.

Relief international’s teams have been delivering emergency aid in response to natural disasters and conflict in the Philippines for more than 30 years. We work with some of the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities to deliver life-saving support such as temporary shelter, clean water, safe sanitation facilities, and hygiene supplies that include soap, washing powder, cooking utilities, sanitary products, and diapers.

We offer emergency medical care for the immediate injuries that result from conflict or natural disasters. We also provide healthcare for the ongoing needs faced by communities whose health facilities have been destroyed. During distribution, we also promote protection messaging, together with health and hygiene awareness information.

In addition to meeting urgent needs, our work empowers Filipinos to protect themselves and their families against future risks. We partner with the government, private sector, and local communities to help build resilience to future disasters through trainings on disaster risk reduction, sustainable agriculture practices, and forest conservation.

We also work with the country’s indigenous populations to help protect the rights and culture of some of the Philippines’ oldest tribes – particularly as they relate to inclusive business policies. Our efforts include improving human rights in business practice in regions such as Mindanao, where an estimated 61% of the population is indigenous.

The recent creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) offers an unprecedented opportunity for long lasting peace and security in Mindanao. With regional elections scheduled for 2022, Relief International is supporting the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to open a much-needed doorway for development for over 4 million people in BARMM through enhancing governance and service delivery.

“For a country of 7,000 islands, accessing vulnerable people at any time can be challenging,” says Relief International Country Director Jack Morgan.

“This is particularly tricky during the typhoons that batter the islands each year. Although we have a few days’ notice, we don’t know exactly where they will hit or how strong they will be. They can change direction at a moment’s notice and become more powerful than predicted.

The constant threat of natural disasters makes the Philippines especially fragile. Although the Philippine’s national disaster preparedness system is highly advanced, we are all still at the mercy of 200 mile-per-hour strong winds, unexpected earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on a regular basis.

While Relief International can’t be everywhere, our network of local partners helps us extend our reach to strategic locations. This lets us focus our responses and help more communities in need in the aftermath of these extreme weather events.”


Our 2022 Impact in the Philippines
7.9M
community members trained in life saving vaccinations campaigns
7.4K
people who received emergency cash assistance
16K
healthcare providers trained

Stories from the Philippines

Learn more about our work in the Philippines from our staff and the people we serve.

Philippines

“We are used to having typhoons… But these typhoons are getting more destructive every year”

Typhoons in the Philippines are growing in strength and destruction.

To assist, RI is preparing local communities for how to avoid disease outbreaks resulting from typhoons so that they will be better prepared when the next one hits.

READ MORE

Philippines

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Philippines

Since August 2021, RI has reached more than 6.4 million people across 14 municipalities in the Philippines with messages about the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

READ MORE

Philippines

Providing Support in the Philippines after Typhoon Rai

Violent wind and torrential rain caused by Typhoon Rai has had a devastating impact on infrastructure in the Philippines. Relief International is working around the clock to provide support during this crisis.

READ MORE

Philippines

Working Towards a Brighter Future in the Philippines

COVID-19 has led to worse living conditions for displaced families in the Philippines. Relief International has helped them through a unique program that helps fight the pandemic and support the families most affected by it, at the same time.

READ MORE

Philippines

World Humanitarian Day: Climate action is needed now

On World Humanitarian Day, Relief International’s Area Coordinator in the Philippines, Joseph Benoyo, reflects on the human cost of the climate crisis and the increasing challenges this is creating for humanitarian workers around the world.

READ MORE

Philippines

Rising through life’s many storms in typhoon hit Philippines

When the most powerful typhoons in nearly a decade lashed the Philippines Tatay and his family lost all their possessions and were facing extreme hardship. With emergency cash support from Relief International they were able to cover their most urgent needs while they got back on their feet

READ MORE

Philippines

“It’s not a normal day at work”: Responding to COVID-19 and Polio in the Philippines

The second largest island in the Philippines, Mindanao is one of the most fragile settings in the world. The site of a decades-long conflict and recurrent earthquakes, the island community is now struggling to contain competing outbreaks of polio and the novel coronavirus, which serve to push families to their limits.

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Philippines

Typhoons in the Philippines: 30 Years of Relief

With over 30 years experience working in the Philippines, Relief International’s teams were able to respond immediately to Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded.

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Philippines

Preparedness is Key to Weathering the Storms

Battered by an average of 20 typhoons a year, Filipino communities need to stay constantly prepared. Relief International provides training to local communities and governments to reduce risks during these natural disasters.

READ MORE
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Philippines

“We are used to having typhoons… But these typhoons are getting more destructive every year”

Interview-COVID-19-Philippines.jpg

Philippines

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Philippines

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Philippines

Providing Support in the Philippines after Typhoon Rai

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Philippines

Working Towards a Brighter Future in the Philippines

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Philippines

World Humanitarian Day: Climate action is needed now

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Philippines

Rising through life’s many storms in typhoon hit Philippines

philippines-card-covid19_05142020.jpg

Philippines

“It’s not a normal day at work”: Responding to COVID-19 and Polio in the Philippines

RI Staff/RI

Philippines

Typhoons in the Philippines: 30 Years of Relief

philippines-slideshow-220819-5.jpg

Philippines

Preparedness is Key to Weathering the Storms

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Interview-COVID-19-Philippines.jpg
bulletin-RI-PHL-17-dec-2-1.jpg
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RI Staff/RI
philippines-slideshow-220819-5.jpg
Philippines-3.png

“We are used to having typhoons… But these typhoons are getting more destructive every year”

Interview-COVID-19-Philippines.jpg

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Philippines

bulletin-RI-PHL-17-dec-2-1.jpg

Providing Support in the Philippines after Typhoon Rai

Sauda-A_-scaled.jpg

Working Towards a Brighter Future in the Philippines

philippines-slideshow-220819-1.jpg

World Humanitarian Day: Climate action is needed now

Copy-of-Untitled.png

Rising through life’s many storms in typhoon hit Philippines

philippines-card-covid19_05142020.jpg

“It’s not a normal day at work”: Responding to COVID-19 and Polio in the Philippines

RI Staff/RI

Typhoons in the Philippines: 30 Years of Relief

philippines-slideshow-220819-5.jpg

Preparedness is Key to Weathering the Storms

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Featured Project

Responding to Major Outbreaks of Polio and COVID-19 in the Philippines

The Philippines is struggling to contain major outbreaks of polio and COVID-19, which hit the island nation’s shores within a six-month period. Relief International partnered with UNICEF to respond to both outbreaks in communities on the island of Mindanao.

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With a gift to Relief International, you can help deliver safe drinking water. You can help provide healthcare to displaced families, far from home. You can help ensure girls and boys alike receive an education, which in turn creates paths towards employment. This all starts with you.

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Bangladesh. Rachel Elkind/RI