'Last Mile’ Photo Exhibit highlights ‘no one should be left behind in disasters’

The Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, together with its humanitarian partners and the Cultural Center of the Philippines launched “The Last Mile” photo exhibition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater Lobby.   

The exhibition is being re-launched in Manila as part of the CCP’s Children Biennale and in commemoration of the one-year anniversary since Typhoon Odette hit the Philippines. It is also held in conjunction with the screening of the film “Kun Maupay man it panahon” (Whether the Weather is Fine). The photo exhibition was first held a few months ago in Siargao, coinciding with World Humanitarian Day. 

Mr Christoph Wagner, Minister Counsellor, EU Delegation to the Philippines, inaugurated the exhibition on Saturday together with Mr Dennis Marasigan, Vice-President, CCP, ECHO and its humanitarian organization-partners.  

Mr Wagner said that the EU’s goal was to help build the best possible life for children even during disasters.  “We are all in this together, families and communities, women and men, boys and girls, we can all collaborate to become more disaster-prepared, to help reduce risks to disasters and to adapt to and to mitigate climate change”, he said.    

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“We want to showcase these powerful images once again to show just how devastating typhoons are to marginalized and remote communities in the Philippines. We also want to show what we can do together to save lives and reduce the risks and impacts of disasters,” said Oxfam Pilipinas Country Director Lot Felizco.

“With climate change, we expect more intense typhoons to hit the Philippines. We hope the exhibit will also give people hope that something can be done and is being done to strengthen our communities against future disasters and to help them recover from Typhoon Odette,” she added. 

During the event, Oxfam Pilipinas discussed how calamities are becoming more unpredictable and powerful amid climate change. The organization highlighted the importance of being proactive through anticipatory action. Oxfam Pilipinas and its partner organizations implement this through programs that provide pre-disaster cash assistance to vulnerable families in its program areas forecasted to be affected by typhoons or flooding, a couple of days before the disaster strikes. This allows families to prepare and evacuate, resulting in more lives saved and livelihoods protected. 

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The exhibition features images captured by organizations that implemented the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (EU-ECHO) emergency response for the survivors of Typhoon Odette: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger, Care Philippines, Humanity & Inclusion, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS) Inc., Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK), Oxfam Pilipinas, Plan International, Save the Children Philippines, Sentro para sa Ikauunlad ng Katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya (SIKAT) Inc, Community Organizers Multiversity, and United Youth of the Philippines-Women. 

EU-ECHO’s funding of the Typhoon Odette emergency response enabled the provision of emergency services to almost half a million individuals in Bohol, Cebu, Dinagat Islands, Southern Leyte, Negros Occidental, Palawan, and Surigao del Norte through two consortia: one led by CARE, with ACCORD Inc., National Rural Women’s Coalition, Plan International, and Action Against Hunger; and another led by Oxfam Pilipinas, with Save the Children and Humanity & Inclusion (HI), together with local partners SIKAT Inc. and IDEALS Inc. 

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Oxfam Pilipinas with humanitarian organization partners for the Typhoon Odette Response funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. (Photo: Oxfam Pilipinas)

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