Typhoon Mangkhut disproportionally affects those with disabilities
cbm is responding to help those with disabilities affected by the strongest storm of the year.
In pre-dawn darkness, Super Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall on Saturday in the coastal town of Baggao in Cagayan province
on the northern tip of Luzon, Philippines. What is often forgotten is that up to 15% of people in its path have disabilities and these people are the most
vulnerable.
“In typhoons, those with disabilities are the least able to flee or protect themselves in their homes. It’s the
forgotten, tragic story of disasters and emergencies”, said Dr Murray Sheard, CEO of cbm New Zealand. “cbm specialises in ensuring disaster responses include those with disabilities and we work to help them prepare in
advance.”
cbm (Christian Blind Mission International) is conducting damage and response assessments through its Emergency Response
Unit and is ready to respond via their partners’ Ilocos Sur office in North West Luzon, near where the typhoon exited
the Philippines.
cbm will be offering relief, especially to ensure people with disabilities are not left behind. This includes emergency
shelter, school repairs and assistive devices for people with disabilities, as well as advocating for inclusion of
persons with disabilities into relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The strongest storm the world has seen this year, Super Typhoon Mangkhut, ploughed through the Northern coast’s
agricultural region with strong winds and heavy rain. More than four million people were in the typhoon’s path, which
had winds of up to 200km/h and gusts up to 260km/h. It is known that at least 69 people have been killed and this is
expected to rise to well over 100. Damages are estimated to exceed $270 million.
Heavy damage to infrastructure and agriculture was sustained and over 700,000 people from 30 provinces were affected.
Mangkhut’s path affected areas where country’s major dams and river basins are located. Governor Manuel Mamba of Cagayan
said that the province had time to harvest less than 10 percent of produce from rice and corn fields before the typhoon
struck.
“As well as providing direct relief, cbm New Zealand also works with other New Zealand aid agencies to ensure that disaster relief is more inclusive of those
with disabilities”, says Sheard.
New Zealanders can give to the response, especially for those with disabilities, at cbmnz.org.nz or by calling 0800 113 114
About cbm
cbm is an international Christian development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of persons with
disabilities in the poorest countries of the world. With over 100 years of professional expertise, CBM addresses poverty
as a cause, and a consequence, of disability, and works in partnership towards an inclusive world in which all persons
with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.
www.cbmnz.org.nz 0800 113 114
ENDS