In the Philippines, typhoon victims are getting back on their feet with the support of HI

No country in the world experiences typhoons and tropical storms as frequently as the Philippines. On average, around 20 enter Philippine territory each year, and just under half make landfall.¹ One of the most powerful storms of 2025 was Typhoon Ragasa, which swept across the northern islands with wind speeds of up to 270 km/h. More than 690,000 people were affected.²

Disastrous consequences

Edgardo, a 71-year-old farmer, lives alone in the uplands of Calayan Island. He had no idea what disaster was coming on that fateful day, 22 September 2025. It had been raining for days, but that was nothing unusual during the monsoon season. Edgardo was completely taken by surprise when violent winds suddenly picked up.

“When the rain and wind became stronger, I evacuated to my neighbor’s house because it was sturdier,” he recalls. “When I came back the following day, my home was gone - along with my bananas and all my vegetables.”

37-year-old Lerma lives near the coast of Calayan. Unlike Edgardo, she was aware of the impending danger. The entire community was evacuated in time, and her life was never at risk. But the consequences were still devastating for her family: her home was almost completely destroyed. Her husband’s fishing boat was also lost, leaving the family without a roof over their heads or a source of income.

“We are used to strong typhoons because we experience them often,” Lerma says. “But nothing prepared us for this. All that was left were broken bricks.”

HI’s emergency response

To support the most vulnerable people affected by the typhoon, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) launched its emergency response in early October. In Cagayan province - on the island of Luzon and on the smaller Babuyan Islands - HI provided financial assistance to a total of 1,305 people. Lerma says:

“I thought we’d be celebrating Christmas living in a tent,” Lerma says.“I will use this to buy materials to repair our shelter, soap so I can finally wash our soiled clothes, and school supplies for my child, who also lost most of her belongings.”

Cash assistance is a fast and effective way to support people after a disaster. It allows     them to decide for themselves how best to use the support, based on their own needs. At the same time, it helps local economies recover more quickly, as essential goods are purchased locally. For some this support offers hope: Edgardo plans to use the money to rebuild his home:

“It may seem like a small amount, but for someone with no savings and no livelihood left, it brings hope and the courage to move forward”, says the old man with tears in his eyes.

In addition, 50 people with disabilities and older people received assistive devices such as wheelchairs, canes, and crutches. For many people, this support represents a first step towards a dignified life and a way out of an inhumane situation. Assistive devices allow individuals with limited mobility to move to safer areas, reach evacuation centers, access relief distribution points, carry out their daily activities, and help them maintain dignity despite the emergency conditions.

HI also organised awareness-raising sessions on gender-based violence and child protection, as severe disasters often lead to an increased risk of physical and sexual violence.

The assistance in the aftermath of Typhoon Ragasa was funded by the Start Network, a global partnership between 134 international, national and local NGOs. Through their Start Ready project, funding is collected in advance for humanitarian aid interventions in the event of recurring disasters, such as the typhoons in the Philippines. This enables HI to respond more quickly and collaborate more effectively with other NGOs after a disaster.

¹ https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/climate/tropical-cyclone-information
² https://public.emdat.be/