Super Typhoon Odette made its first landfall in the Philippines in the province of Surigao del Norte on 16 December 2021, bringing about maximum sustained winds of 195 kph and gustiness of 260 kph, then making eight more succeeding landfalls and leaving a trail of devastation in different provinces mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Super Typhoon Odette is the strongest storm to hit Mindanao in 10 years and the 3rd ever strongest recorded storm in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) report launched by the Philippine Government and the United Nations on 24 December 2021, the major highlights of the super typhoon’s impact are the following:

16 million people affected across 6 regions:

• 652,000 displaced people, of whom 444,000 are in evacuation centers while 240,000 are outside evacuation centers;
• 177 deaths; and
• Most impacted provinces include Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Leyte and Southern Leyte.

The objective of this project was to ensure the continuity of life-saving sexual and reproductive health services and systems strengthening in the communities affected by Super Typhoon Odette, with protection against gender-based violence following an integrated SRH-GBV approach. In partnership with the Department of Health and Department of Social Welfare and Development – including their regional offices in CARAGA and Eastern Visayas – and the concerned local governments of Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte, UNFPA will ensure the implementation of the Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergencies and the Minimum Standards for Gender-based Violence in Emergencies.

UNFPA Philippines tapped the Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood (PSRP) and The Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines as its implementing partner to provide Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care services in Sothern Leyte by conducting Integrated Reproductive Health Medical Missions (RHMMs) in the municipalities of Panaon Island Interlocal Health Zone (Pintuyan, San Francisco, San Ricardo and Liloan). A total of forty-seven (47) medical missions across the 4 LGUs @40 pax per mission will be conducted for a total reach of 1,880 women and young girls.