Super Typhoon Odette (Rai)

As of Jan. 3, 2022, the chief of the national disaster agency reported 407 deaths, 78 people missing and nearly 1,150 people injured. Not all deaths, injuries or missing person reports have been validated so numbers are subject to change. In December, the chief stated that “damage to infrastructure and agriculture was estimated at 23.4 billion pesos ($459 million).”

The United Nations said that, “Latest assessments show that 11 out of the Philippines’ 17 regions were affected by the passage of Rai, which is known locally as Odette. It was the strongest typhoon to strike the Philippine archipelago in 2021 and disrupted the lives of more than seven million people, according to government data. In addition to flattening homes, the Super Typhoon upended lives and devastated farming and fishing communities which provide a major source of income and livelihoods. It caused massive electricity and telecommunications outages that continue to affect many areas.”

The UN’s Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provided a comparison on Jan. 11, 2022 of the differences between Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda and Rai/Odette. It said, “Eight years after Super Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda), the most destructive storm to hit the Philippines, Super Typhoon Rai (known locally as Odette) brought similar torrential rains, violent winds, mudslides, floods and storm surges to central parts of the Philippines, leaving a wide path of destruction and debris in its wake. While not as powerful as Haiyan, Rai damaged houses, infrastructure and livelihoods on a comparable scale. It struck as people across the Philippines were already coping with increasing poverty, unemployment and a roll-back on development gains following two years of the pandemic. Their resources are now depleted and local coping capacities are severely strained. One bright spot amid Rai’s destruction was the significantly lower number of casualties, which is thanks to pre-emptive measures undertaken by communities and Governments.”

OCHA reported that for Rai/Odette, as of Jan. 15, 2022:

• 8 million people were affected. “Southern Leyte was one of the worst-affected provinces, with 18 towns and cities suffering damage, and its capital Maasin city, utterly devastated. These areas desperately need more personnel and aid supplies.”
• 9 million people were displaced. 198,652 remain displaced across five regions as of Jan. 23, mostly in Southern Leyte, Cebu and Bohol. “Over 156,551 of these people are still in evacuation centres, mostly because their homes have been destroyed. Aid agencies are distributing shelter repair kits as quickly as possible to enable returns. Cash vouchers will also help families rebuild their homes. The Government has announced it will also provide $100 to each family with a damaged house.”
• 36 million homes were damaged (992,000) or destroyed (368,000) compared to 1.1 million for Haiyan
• 514 municipalities were affected. These “towns and cities suffered destruction including power outages, and damaged houses, roads, bridges, schools, health clinics, water and sanitation systems. One month on, 100 of these towns and cities still have power outages or no power at all. Restoring power is a priority, as 80 per cent of water systems cannot function without it, and relief efforts are having a difficult time responding without power or telecomms.”

As of Jan. 13, 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that 208,480 people were still displaced. They said the total crop area affected was more than 275,000 acres (111,500 hectares). WFP also stated that, “Alarming malnutrition rates pre-typhoon in some impacted areas could further deteriorate unless immediate food needs are met in the next six months. Assessments in affected provinces outside Caraga indicated market prices are still unstable, and food and cash are among top needs … the typhoon’s impact on malnutrition and health in the medium- long-term could be massive. In Caraga, before the typhoon hit, 53 percent of families were unable to afford a nutritious diet and childhood stunting was at 36 percent (indicating a “very high public health significance”). Amid the absence of clean water sources, cases of deaths due to diarrhoea have been reported in Caraga. Since the typhoon struck, there have been 895 cases and 9 deaths in Siargao Island and Dinagat Islands.”

Malaysia was also affected by the cyclone with 21,000 people evacuated or rescued and thousands more in need of assistance. Five people died in that country.