“Can we still handle this? Let’s just carry this burden. Just carry it, even if it's heavy. Let’s not give up — we can get through this somehow.”
The words of Janet Menes from Camarines Sur resonate deeply across the Philippines, where families like hers are striving to rebuild their lives after an unprecedented six typhoons struck their country in just less than a month late last year.
Three months later, Philippine Red Cross staff and volunteers continue to work tirelessly to help people to get back on their feet. In one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world — with an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year — they provide life-saving aid before, during and after emergencies.
Critical support amidst the devastation
Between October and November 2024, typhoons and super typhoons Kristine, Leon, Marce, Niko, Ofel, and Pepito (all local names) tore through the country, leaving over 14 million people affected.
Torrential rains, gushing winds, and landslides destroyed homes, damaged infrastructure and disrupted livelihoods. Entire communities like Janet’s were hit repeatedly, barely recovering from one disaster before the next arrived.
In Albay, Jeanette and Jefferson Mata Septo experienced a devastation they had never experienced before. “It was a severe storm. We didn’t expect that the water would rise so high in our area,” Jeanette recalls.
The rising floodwaters forced them to seek refuge in multiple locations, including neighbours’ homes. When the waters were simply too high, there was nowhere else to go but the highway. There beside the road they waited — soaked, exhausted, and with only the few documents they had managed to save.
Storm survivor Jeanette Mata Septo chats with Gerald from the Albay chapter of the Philippine Red Cross.
Photo: Hansika Bhagani/IFRC
When Jefferson returned to their home after the waters subsided to salvage what he could, he could not believe what he saw. “That morning, when he returned to our house, the floodwaters were still high. He was trying to save our belongings, and I think the stress from that situation triggered him having a stroke,” Jeanette says.
After an emergency visit to the local hospital, Jefferson was put on critical, life-long medication to avoid another stroke.
The Philippine Red Cross proved to be a lifeline, providing medication for Jefferson’s hypertension, along with kitchen and hygiene kits to help the family rebuild. “The medicine provided by the Red Cross was a huge help. Medicine is costly,” Jeanette explains.
Helping families rebuild from scratch
In the neighbouring province of Camarines Sur, Janet, her husband Albiz and their six children, faced the same devastating situation caused by Typhoon Kristine. But as the heavy rains pelted down, Janet had developed a high fever and was too sick to evacuate to a proper shelter.
“By evening, the water rose," she recalls. "My husband helped move our things to higher ground, but some of our belongings were lost. I couldn’t assist much due to my fever."
The family sought refuge in the nearby cemetery, where they endured days of high waters and harsh conditions.
Janet Menes and her husband Albiz Menes walk through the cemetery where they took shelter during severe storms in November 2024.
Photo: Hansika Bhagani/IFRC
The family returned home to find their house in ruins, with only the roof remaining. Again, the Philippine Red Cross provided critical assistance.
“Before Christmas, we received 5,000 pesos (around USD 100) from the Red Cross," Janet explains. "We used it to buy plywood for the roof and lumber for the kitchen. Now we’ve made some quarters—a living room, a kitchen, and then the walls."
Support for as long as needed
The Philippine Red Cross, supported by the IFRC Emergency Appeal, has been at the forefront of response and recovery efforts following Typhoon Kristine and the five other consecutive major typhoons that hit the country.
From search-and-rescue missions to support for people living in evacuation centres, their efforts have been critical to maintaining health and wellbeing in the aftermath.
In evacuation centres, hot meals composed of rice, boiled eggs and sardines were distributed, as well as clean drinking water. This is crucial because when people lose their belongings in a typhoon, cooking stoves and utensils are also often lost.
Children were supervised in child-friendly spaces with colouring in, singing and dancing activities and the chance to talk to trained volunteers about their needs and concerns. Health desks provided checkups including testing blood pressure. Where needed, medicine was provided to prevent the spread of diseases and infections that often come with the extreme weather.
Janet Menes with son and daughter at home.
Photo: Hansika Bhagani/IFRC
As communities recover, the Red Cross will continue to deliver what people need: cash to rebuild homes and buy essential items, livelihoods support so people can go back to work, and the psychosocial support of staff and volunteers embedded in their own local communities.
Janet says she talks to her children about preparing for future disasters now, and her words are as much for the children, as they are for her and Albiz.
“Let’s not give up—we can get through this, somehow.”
