UPDATE 12/6/14: Typhoon Hagupin has made landfall and is battering communities with very strong winds and heavy rainfall. Our emergency teams remain on standby to respond quickly. Donate now to help us rush life-saving aid when it's needed.
As Typhoon Hagupit bears down on the Philippines with winds of about 133 miles per hour, Oxfam is preparing emergency supplies and keeping assessment teams on standby across the country.
The island nation is still feeling the effects of Haiyan, the super typhoon that killed more than 5,000 people just over a year ago and left widespread destruction in its wake. This new storm is expected to hit sometime Saturday evening.
“We are especially watchful on areas that are still recovering from Haiyan,”said Justin Morgan, Oxfam’s country director. “”We are concerned that these households will be less able to cope with potential impacts of typhoon Hagupit on their homes and on their livelihoods.”
We are preparing household water kits, which enable families to make their drinking water safe, as well as hygiene kits that include basic sanitation items like anti-bacterial soap along with sleeping mats, blankets, underwear, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. For women with newborns, we are assembling special kits that include blankets, mats, and clothing for their babies.
Knowing that women and girls are at increased risk of gender-based violence in the wake of disasters in the Philippines, we are paying keen attention to the importance of ensuring their protection.
“Oxfam has integrated gendered considerations into its assessments tools, with gender specialists as part of all of its rapid assessment teams,” said Morgan. “Oxfam is also committed to working with government and other humanitarian partners to ensure the rights of women are upheld through any emergency response, and that their particular needs and capacities are taken into account.”
As the storm moves over the Philippines, we’ll continue to update you and provide information on how you can help our emergency response.