Tropical Storm Ketsana struck the Philippines on 26 September 2009 and torrential rains, the heaviest in more than 40 years, caused severe flooding and massive population displacement in urban areas, but also in the surrounding countryside. Government reports and the joint rapid needs assessment indicate that Luzon, an island in the north of the Philippines, has been the hardest hit. Still, various meteorological reports have indicated the possibility of more tropical storms affecting the Philippines soon.
The Government of the Philippines and the UN Country Team requested WFP to mobilize three heavy-lift helicopters for an initial one-month period to reinforce the existing response capacity.
