Super-Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
(From USAID’s Haiyan Information Page)
On November 8, Typhoon Haiyan—known as Yolanda in the Philippines—made landfall in the central Philippines, bringing strong winds and heavy rains that have resulted in flooding, landslides, and widespread damage.
The U.S. Government (USG) is providing $20 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to benefit typhoon-affected populations, including the provision of emergency shelter, food assistance, relief commodities, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) support.
USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and corresponding Washington, D.C.- based Response Management Team (RMT).
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
On November 8, Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan made landfall in the central Philippines, triggering heavy rains that caused widespread flooding and landslides, particularly in East Samar and Leyte provinces. As of November 11, Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan had caused at least 1,774 deaths, affected an estimated 9.7 million people, and damaged or destroyed approximately 23,200 houses, as well as public infrastructure and agricultural land, across 41 provinces, according to the NDRRMC. However, local officials project that the typhoon killed an estimated 10,000 people in Leyte Province alone, where storm surges reached 13 feet and sustained winds surpassed approximately 175 miles per hour, according to international media.
On November 9 and 10, the DART deputy team leader conducted humanitarian assessments in Ormoc, the second-largest city in heavily affected Leyte Province, and surrounding areas, reporting near-complete damage in some areas, particularly along the coast. In Ormoc city, the typhoon damaged or destroyed approximately 80 to 90 percent of visible housing. Debris and downed power lines continue to block road access to affected populations.