Manila, 14 November 2025 - Working closely with the Government of the Philippines, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has mobilized emergency teams and early recovery support following severe damage caused by the successive impacts of Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) and Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong).

With sustained winds reaching up to 185 km/h, the recent typhoons struck communities still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake earlier in the season. The impact caused extensive damage across multiple regions, displaced nearly 1.8 million people, and disrupted housing, infrastructure, and essential services in areas already under strain.

"These storms are a stark reminder that preparedness saves lives," said Tristan Burnett, IOM Chief of Mission in the Philippines. "Communities did everything they could with the tools available, but stronger investment in safer shelters, resilient infrastructure, and locally led disaster planning is essential. People should not have to face repeated displacement each time a storm makes landfall."

In the wake of this damage, IOM is supporting immediate needs while helping communities move into the early stages of recovery. As of 14 November, IOM has supported 40 evacuation centres across seven provinces, distributed more than 1,600 shelter-grade tarpaulins and 1,250 shelter-repair kits, and reached thousands of families with essential relief items.

Before Super Typhoon Uwan made landfall, IOM also provided modular privacy tents to evacuation centres in two regions so evacuated families could wait out the storm in safer, more dignified conditions. Further assistance is underway, including emergency shelters, targeted cash support for the most vulnerable households, and supplies of clean water and hygiene materials.

With recovery efforts now progressing, IOM continues its global advocacy for integrated, resilience-focused approaches to disaster management and preparedness that align with the Government's priorities and strengthen local systems, reduce displacement, and help communities better withstand the effects of climate shocks. This approach is particularly important in a context like the Philippines, which faces increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

In the Province of Albay, no lives were lost during Super Typhoon Uwan, thanks to the pre-emptive evacuation by the authorities of more than 27,000 people before landfall. Similar preparedness measures proved critical in the Municipality of Bacacay, where solar-powered evacuation centres and clear pre- and post-evacuation protocols saved lives.

During the height of the typhoon, the solar panels at the evacuation centre, installed through IOM's community resilience programme, provided the only electricity in town, ensuring emergency communication and safe, dignified shelter for hundreds of families.

Super Typhoon Uwan is the 21st tropical cyclone to strike the country this year and brought torrential rains and catastrophic winds that displaced over 1.8 million people. Earlier in the month, Typhoon Tino made multiple landfalls in the Visayas and Southwestern Tagalog regions, affecting more than 4.3 million people and displacing over 382,000 individuals.

The combined impacts have strained local systems and heightened protection risks, particularly in provinces such as Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental, where many families have lost homes and livelihoods. National authorities report that nearly 190,000 homes have suffered damage or destruction. Recovery and reconstruction efforts will require comprehensive planning and coordination across local, regional, and national levels.

Beyond the immediate response, IOM is working to help communities strengthen their resilience to future climate events, including through better data to identify households most at risk of displacement. This information is essential for designing targeted, climate-resilient measures.

With COP30 underway in Belém, Brazil, IOM is reinforcing these priorities and continues to call for greater investment in safer shelters, renewable energy and resilient infrastructure, stronger community-led disaster risk management, and solid pre-impact planning.

For more information, please visit IOM's Media Centre.