ADRA Steps Into Mission After Super Typhoon Uwan Devastates the Philippines

A week after landfall, ADRA continues to bring hope, relief, and Christlike compassion to storm-stricken communities.

A week after Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-Wong) swept across Luzon and parts of the Visayas, communities continued to recover from the destruction left by one of the year’s most powerful storms. The typhoon made landfall over Aurora Province on November 9, bringing widespread flooding, landslides, power outages, and displacement across several regions.

Uwan struck as the second major typhoon in less than a week, hitting provinces already weakened by Typhoon Kalmaegi. With sustained winds of 185 kph and gusts reaching 215 kph, the storm pushed storm surges more than three meters high into coastal towns, forcing families to evacuate in the dark. Government agencies reported that 1.3 million people sought shelter before landfall, while more than 480,000 were displaced as the system crossed Northern Luzon.

Widespread Impact Across Multiple Regions
The Bicol Region suffered the heaviest impact, reporting more than 652,000 of the 836,000 affected individuals nationwide. Roads and bridges across eight regions became impassable, and 155 cities and municipalities lost power at the height of the storm. Most areas continued to experience limited electricity a week after landfall.

Deaths were reported in Bicol and Eastern Visayas, while hundreds suffered injuries as floodwaters rose and debris battered homes. More than 1,000 houses sustained partial damage, and nearly 100 were destroyed, particularly in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Seaports halted operations due to rough seas, leaving passengers and cargo stranded as communities struggled to regain stability.

A resident wades through ankle-deep floodwaters in a neighborhood affected by Super Typhoon Uwan, as fallen branches and debris line the streets a week after the storm swept across Luzon. ADRA teams reported widespread flooding in several provinces as assessments and relief coordination continued.

Humanitarian Pressures Intensified
Uwan compounded the effects of a series of disasters that struck the Philippines in recent months. Evacuation centers—still housing families affected by previous emergencies—became overcrowded, heightening protection concerns and straining limited resources.

Local government teams carried out search and rescue operations and distributed initial relief goods. National clusters mobilized food, water, shelter kits, medical support, and psychosocial services. However, obstructed roads, flooded barangays, and isolated communities slowed down the delivery of assistance.

ADRA Mobilizes Assessments and Expands Response
In the aftermath of the storm, ADRA Philippines began coordinated assessments across Northern and Central Luzon and the Bicol Region to identify the most urgent needs. Teams in Bicol and the Cordillera region provided real-time updates from the field and used digital tools to strengthen coordination and improve reporting.

The assessments focused on vulnerable households in flood-prone and landslide-affected areas, reflecting ADRA’s commitment to stand with communities facing loss and uncertainty. ADRA worked closely with the National Shelter and Health Clusters to share updates, align resources, and ensure that the most affected families received timely support.

Recently, ADRA received approval for its emergency response request for Super Typhoon Uwan, allowing operations to move forward in the target areas of Aurora and Quezon provinces under the Central Luzon Conference (CLPM) and the South-Central Luzon Conference (SCLC). This development strengthens ADRA’s capacity to deliver life-saving assistance to families in provinces hit directly by the storm’s landfall zone.

Several additional funding proposals remained in progress, while UNFPA confirmed support through CERF funding for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence cash assistance in Catanduanes. As resources continue to be mobilized, ADRA expects to scale up operations across multiple storm-affected regions.

Operational Challenges Ahead
Responders worked through difficult and hazardous conditions. Flooded roads, landslides, unstable terrain, and downed power lines delayed movement. Limited funding and stretched personnel added pressure as ADRA responded to overlapping emergencies across the country.

Even under these constraints, ADRA continued its mission of serving communities during their greatest moments of need. Staff safety, strong coordination with local government units, and ongoing monitoring guided its operations as families navigated the challenges of recovery.

A Call Toward Hope and Recovery
Across Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and other devastated provinces, scenes of toppled trees, submerged roads, and damaged homes spoke to the magnitude of the storm’s impact. Yet alongside the destruction were signs of hope—neighbors clearing debris together, communities sharing limited resources, and volunteers extending help to those who lost the most.

ADRA’s presence continues to reflect the mission central to the Adventist Church: compassion in action, service to the vulnerable, and the call to uplift those in crisis. As families rebuild, ADRA and its partners remain committed to restoring essential services and supporting long-term recovery. In moments like these, acts of service become expressions of God’s love—offering strength and courage to communities rising after the storm.

For more information about ADRA, visit their website.

The original article was published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.