On June 8, a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Damage has spread mainly in General Santos City and Sarangani Province, including collapsed buildings, landslides, and power outages. According to reports, at least 32 people have lost their lives, more than 200 have been injured, and thousands have been displaced. There are concerns about further building collapses due to aftershocks and the prolonged displacement of affected communities. The need for food, water, and hygiene supplies is increasing among affected households.

AAR Japan (Association for Aid and Relief, Japan) will dispatch Japanese staff to the Philippines to carry out emergency assistance. After assessing the damage and identifying local needs on the ground, AAR plans to distribute relief supplies in severely affected areas where aid has not yet sufficiently reached. The supplies will include food items such as rice, canned goods, and instant foods; hygiene items such as soap and sanitary products; and daily necessities such as blankets and solar lights.

In distributing aid, priority will be given to households whose homes have been damaged, those living in evacuation centers, low-income households, and households that include persons with disabilities, the elderly, infants, and pregnant or nursing women.
AAR previously dispatched Japanese staff to support those affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Typhoon No. 30) in the Philippines in 2013, providing food assistance in hard-to-reach areas as well as housing repair support for households with persons with disabilities and elderlies. Drawing on this experience, AAR will respond to the urgent needs of affected households once again.

We kindly ask for your support to help AAR deliver rapid assistance to those affected by the earthquake in the Philippines.

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