Classified as a Category 4 typhoon, typhoon Ulysses battered the central, eastern, and southern parts of Luzon, just when the Philippines is just recovering from previous typhoons. Strong winds and heavy rains have resulted in massive flooding, which greatly damaged properties, infrastructures, crops, and even caused a number of deaths.

Despite a better weather in the past days, the fact is that a lot Filipinos are still trying to recover from the overwhelming damages to their lives and property. In this time when communities are destroyed, families continue to seek safer shelters elsewhere. The government must then ensure that people can continuously access humanitarian support in the course of their displacements.

The humanitarian responders, including the government, must also take into consideration the risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Evacuation sites are oftentimes cramped, and without considerable space for social distancing. On top of the overcrowded evacuation center, internally-displaced persons (IDPs) encounter water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues. In programming relief assistance, hygiene kits, masks, and other supplies are usually not included.

With this, the Center for Crisis, Conflict, and Humanitarian Protection of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) calls on to the national, regional, and local agencies, such as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and its regional and local DRRMCs; the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Department of Health (DOH); and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), among other relevant agencies, to upscale its humanitarian assistance to displaced communities and address the needs of IDPs after the typhoon and effects of the pandemic.

Identification of more evacuation shelters is necessary for keeping the number of families limited per site. As part of disaster preparedness, authorities should also assess areas or structures that can be used as evacuation centers in the future. In the aftermath of typhoon Ulysses, some of the designated evacuations were also flooded. Thus, authorities must ensure that a risk assessment of the identified sites must be conducted in selecting evacuation centers. In addition, local governments must also monitor the health of IDPs within their jurisdiction, given their increased vulnerability to Covid-19.

In times of natural calamities, the government has the primordial responsibility of protecting its people and providing immediate assistance to its constituents. This is not the time for divisive remarks or maligning of efforts of humanitarian providers that effectively respond to the needs of the people. The government must act as one to be of best assistance to communities affected by different disasters and calamities. ###