The 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Bogo City, Cebu, Philippines, on 30 September 2025 has caused widespread devastation, leaving thousands of families in urgent need of food, clean water, shelter, and medical care. In response, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal for CHF 8 million to support the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which is actively delivering lifesaving assistance to affected communities.
PRC teams were deployed within hours of the quake, conducting rapid assessments and providing first aid, clean water, food, psychosocial support, and essential supplies such as rescue vehicles, generators, and blood units. Despite these efforts, access to the most affected mountainous areas remains difficult due to damaged roads, and ongoing aftershocks continue to threaten safety and slow relief operations.
The PRC, one of the country’s most robust humanitarian networks with 102 chapters, over 1,900 staff, and more than 541,000 volunteers, is under tremendous pressure. Earlier this year, it had already responded to multiple typhoons and storms, and now faces the compounded challenge of supporting earthquake-affected communities while new weather systems threaten other regions. IFRC officials emphasized the urgent need for international support to sustain and scale up relief operations.
Looking beyond immediate response, PRC and IFRC have developed a comprehensive two-year recovery plan to help communities rebuild their lives. This plan will provide safe shelter, medical care, clean water, psychosocial support, and livelihood restoration, aiming to ensure long-term resilience and dignity for affected populations. The IFRC is appealing to donors, partners, and the public to scale up assistance, emphasizing that while Filipino communities are resilient, sustained external support is crucial for a full recovery.
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