Written by: Ananda A.
Visual Credits: The Washington Post
Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as “Odette,” was the 15th and strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2021. It made landfall on December 16, 2021, bringing powerful winds, landslides, and floods. The islands of Visayas and Mindanao were struck the hardest, with millions being injured and displaced.
Natural disasters often disproportionately affect the most vulnerable of a community– one of these groups being children. UNICEF assessment teams located in Bohol, Cebu, Dinagat Island, Siargao Island, Southern Leyte, and Surigao del Norte, reported that children still lack access to safe drinking water, nutritional and psychosocial support, and to the continuation of learning, among others since the typhoon hit.
The Department of Education stated that over 12 million students from 29,671 schools were affected by the typhoon. Affected schools were defined as those that either experienced hazards such as flooding, storm surges, and landslides, or those that were used as evacuation centers during the storm. For schools in Central Visayas alone, an estimated 150 million pesos will be needed to remedy the damages. An estimated total of 3.37 billion pesos is required in order to repair and restore all damaged schools around the nation.
Students from areas affected by Odette have also been calling for an academic freeze, as many still lack access to electricity and other basic necessities. In Bohol, located in Central Visayas, there were power outages in over 225 municipalities. Student organizations from schools such as the University of the Philippines requested a suspension of both synchronous and asynchronous classes, stating that “basic social services like electricity, water supply, and stable mobile connection have not yet been recovered,” and that “with the absence of these basic social services, the university […] cannot operate effectively.”
Critical and immediate recovery needs include the provision of emergency shelter, food and water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as the reconnection of separated families. Longer-term recovery includes the rebuilding of homes and infrastructure (such as sanitation and electricity systems), support for affected businesses, and the overall renewal of communities. Foreign and domestic organizations such as the World Bank and Remote Area Medical Philippines are providing support, and the Philippines has also received foreign aid from nations including Canada, South Korea, and China. A number of ISM clubs and organizations also have drives that are accepting donations, such as Light the Way (donation link here).
Works Cited:
ABS-CBN News, and ABS-CBN News Jaehwa Bernardo. “12 Million Students Affected by 'Odette'.” ABS, ABS-CBN News, 20 Dec. 2021, news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/20/21/12-million-students-affected-by-odette.
“Children Affected by Typhoon Rai/Odette Face Uncertain New Year - Philippines.” ReliefWeb, reliefweb.int/report/philippines/children-affected-typhoon-raiodette-face-uncertain-new-year.
Ecarma, Lorraine. “Students from Odette-Ravaged Areas Call for Deadline Extension.” RAPPLER, 19 Dec. 2021, www.rappler.com/nation/students-typhoon-odette-ravaged-areas-call-deadline-extension/.
Galvez, Daphne. “DepEd: P3.37B Needed to Reconstruct, Repair 2,402 Odette-Damaged Schools.” INQUIRER.net, 28 Dec. 2021, newsinfo.inquirer.net/1532959/deped-p3-37b-needed-to-reconstruct-repair-2402-odette-damaged-schools.
Hernando-Malipot, Merlina. “DepEd Assures Immediate Assistance to 'Odette'- Affected Schools, Field Offices.” Manila Bulletin, 29 Dec. 2021, mb.com.ph/2021/12/29/deped-assures-immediate-assistance-to-odette-affected-schools-field-offices/.
Mogul, Rhea. “Philippines' Typhoon Death Toll Rises Further as Areas Remain Cut Off.” CNN, Cable News Network, 22 Dec. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/12/21/asia/typhoon-rai-philippines-deaths-intl-hnk/index.html.
“Philippines: Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (Dec 2021 - Jun 2022) - Philippines.” ReliefWeb, reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-super-typhoon-rai-odette-humanitarian-needs-and-priorities-dec-2021.
Santos, Tina G. “Foreign Aid Pours in for 'Odette' Victims.” INQUIRER.net, 23 Dec. 2021, newsinfo.inquirer.net/1531085/foreign-aid-pours-in-for-odette-victims.
“Super Typhoon Odette (Rai).” Disasterphilanthropy.org, https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/super-typhoon-odette-rai/.
World Bank Group. “World Bank Support for the Impacts of Typhoon Rai in the Philippines (‘Odette’).” World Bank, World Bank Group, 28 Dec. 2021, www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/brief/world-bank-support-for-the-impacts-of-typhoon-rai-in-the-philippines-odette.