U.N. World Food Programme Mobilizes Emergency Support in Aftermath of Typhoon Rolly (Goni)

WASHINGTON, DC (November 2, 2020) – Super Typhoon Goni struck the Philippines at dawn yesterday, destroying homes, schools, businesses and essential infrastructure. Survivors have lost everything and are in immediate need. The United Nations World Food Programme, with the International Office for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), are currently conducting an inter-agency rapid needs assessment in the hardest hit province of Albay to assess the impact and determine the needs of the affected populations. Among the initially identified top needs were food, shelter, electricity, and emergency telecommunications. In addition, the U.N. World Food Programme is on standby, ready to deploy 35 trucks to the hardest hit areas with food and non-food items.

Goni is the most powerful typhoon to hit the country in 2020 and around 68.6 million people are affected. With their homes destroyed, the most vulnerable children and families also face exposure to COVID-19.

In the Philippines, one of the world’s most natural disaster-prone countries, the U.N. World Food Programme works to increase long-term food and nutrition security while helping its people and communities build resilience and capacity to withstand the impact of disasters.  Since March 2020, the U.N. World Food Programme has been providing technical support and augmenting logistics operations to the Government’s COVID-19 response.

World Food Program USA stands by the Philippine people as they cope with the storm’s destruction and will do all it can to support the U.N. World Food Programme’s emergency response in the region.

Media Contact: 
Toula Athas, Director, Communications, World Food Program USA
tathas@wfpusa.org, 202.627.3940