The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said that 129,367 indigenous peoples (IPs) have been affected by the recent onslaught of typhoon Odette (international name: “Rai”).

Among the severely hit parts of the country were Region IV-B in Luzon, Regions VI, VII, and VIII in Visayas, and Regions X and XIII in Mindanao.

In its special report issued on Dec. 27, NCIP disclosed that 129,367 IPs have been affected by the weather disturbance. Of this number, 108,578 individuals were from MIMAROPA, while 12,239 were residents of western, central, and eastern Visayas.

Moreover, 657 IPs were residents of Northern Mindanao and 7,893 were recorded in Caraga.

Meanwhile, NCIP said the initial assistance given to the victims were food packs, hygiene kits, used clothing, used blankets, shoes, construction materials, and cash.

“To sustain the needs of the typhoon victims, supplementary emergency response activities like distribution of food packs are urgently needed,” NCIP said in its report.

NCIP likewise recognized the need of providing shelter for IPs who have lost their homes, the establishment of child-centered spaces in evacuation centers, the provision of livelihood assistance, and the referral of Emergency Response and Medical Team to those IPs who need special health attention.

The Commission added that indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) and IPs need training in terms of emergency services, health planning, disaster risk reduction, and information management to better prepare them in times of need. (Charie Mae F. Abarca)