Philippines: HI teams prepare for Typhoon Mangkhut

Formed in the western Pacific, this super typhoon has been rated category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds of up to 300km/hour. It is likely to make landfall in the north of the Philippines on the night of Friday 14 to Saturday 15 September. Thousands of people could be affected.

"Although natural disasters are a regular occurrence in the Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda is still fresh in people’s minds, and they’re afraid of this new super typhoon. They’re preparing for it, including by stockpiling food, and fear another disaster," explains Reiza Dejito, director of HI in the Philippines.

HI’s teams have worked in the country for more than 30 years and are preparing to respond to the needs of affected people in the event of an emergency. "Following a typhoon, there is always a risk of floods and landslides. They can kill and injure lots of people, and cut them off from the rest of the world. Our emergency coordinator assesses the situation every six hours and informs teams. In the event of a disaster or serious damage, HI could make assessments to identify the worst-hit areas and assist affected populations by distributing kits of essential items, such as blankets, plastic sheets and cooking utensils, and provide the injured with rehabilitation care, psychological support, and other forms of assistance," adds Reiza Dejito.

HI regularly works with people affected by natural disasters in the Philippines, including by enhancing the disaster preparedness and resilience of communities. Among other activities, the organisation launched a large-scale response following the passage of Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, which affected more than 14 million people and claimed more than 6,000 lives.