Oxfam and partners Humanitarian Response Consortium, Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies, Aksyon sa Kahandaan sa Kalamidad at Klima, People's Disaster Risk Reduction Network, Inc., and Community Organizers Multiversity are monitoring and preparing for the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni).
Amid mobility restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Oxfam Country Director Lot Felizco said that how well the Philippines responds to Typhoon Rolly would be a test of local leadership:
"The compounded threat of Typhoon Rolly and Covid-19 will put local humanitarian leadership to the test. Preparedness of local governments, communities and first responders on the ground is critical because financial support and resources might be delayed due to mobility restrictions. Social distancing protocols will mean new ways of working and responding to what is forecasted to be the strongest typhoon of the year."
Typhoon Rolly is a Category 5 typhoon, with 180 mph winds, the strongest in the world for the year. Rolly is expected to make landfall on Sunday, November 1, on all Souls Day, affecting at least 20 provinces and is the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines since Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) killed more than 6,300 people in November 2013.
Rolly is the third consecutive typhoon in two weeks.