HRW - Human Rights Watch Inc.

02/18/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/18/2026 17:04

After the Storm

Relocation would also mean leaving behind the friends and neighbors that Mirasol relies on for daily support. For her, safety is inseparable from access to work and community: "I need to work here, my family needs my income."

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People in communities across Siargao island, including those with disabilities, bear the impacts of climate change and are not adequately consulted by authorities planning relocations. Consultation and access to information have been very limited and, for people with disabilities, relocation sites are often inaccessible and far from their livelihoods and support networks. These stories highlight what people with disabilities are seeking: to be consulted, to be safe, and to stay connected to their work, communities, and identities as climate change makes storms like Typhoon Odette stronger and more common. As authorities continue to develop relocation plans, the question of whether or not they will give local communities a voice in the process remains unanswered.

Acknowledgments

We are deeply grateful to the individuals who shared their experiences with courage and dignity. Their contributions made this research possible. We recognize the challenges they and their communities face and their hope that their accounts will contribute to safer, rights-respecting relocation efforts.

Research and writing were conducted by Emina Ćerimović. Camille Robiou du Pont took photography and video. The feature was edited by Samer Muscati and Mya Guarnieri. Erica Bower participated in the field research and provided substantive edits and specialist review.

Art direction and development by Maggie Svoboda with support from Travis Carr and Malena Seldin. Web development by Christina Rutherford.

The feature was reviewed by James Ross, Holly Cartner, Maria Laura Canineu, Juliana Nnoko, Julia Bleckner, Sylvain Aubry, and Byrony Lau, and prepared for publication by Audrey Gregg.

We extend special thanks to Arvhelynn Litang and Erwin Mascarines for interpretation support. The local government in Siargao helped us in identifying interviewees and Del Carmen Mayor's office provided us with documentation.

Human Rights Watch also thanks the non-governmental organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities that shared their knowledge and expertise, including Karla Hanson, Shiela Aggarao, and Jun Bernandino at Life Haven.

Thank you also to Mathew Reysio-Cruz, Carlos Conde, Jonas Bull, Nat Slater, Ginbert Cuaton and Yvonne Su for their early support in scoping this project.

Published on February 19, 2026.

HRW - Human Rights Watch Inc. published this content on February 18, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 18, 2026 at 23:04 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]