“The Last Mile Photo Exhibition” – A message of hope and solidarity in the face of disasters

Exhibition open for viewing until 30 November

The Last Mile Photo Exhibit is anchored on creating awareness of the impact brought by Typhoon Odette (Rai) one year after it hit the country, and EU’s and humanitarian organizations’ relief efforts and ongoing programs to help rebuild communities.

The Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and its humanitarian aid partners, together with S Maison and SM, are bringing “The Last Mile” photo exhibition to S Maison, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. It was inaugurated on 24 November at S Maison, SM Mall of Asia by H. E. Luc Véron, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines and Mr Hans Sy Jr, President, SM Engineering Design and Development and Ms Millie Dizon Senior VP of Marketing & Communications of SM and EU’s humanitarian aid partners.

Mr. Hans Sy Jr., President of SM Engineering Design and Development; Millie Dizon, SM senior VP of Marketing & Communications, and H.E., Luc Véron, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The exhibition offers snapshots of the different phases of the EU’s relief and early recovery operations following the passage of typhoon Odette over Surigao Del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Negros Occidental and Palawan, in December 2021.

Highly destructive typhoons and other extreme weather phenomena such as super typhoon Odette are expected to become more frequent due to global warming, as it was made very clear by the scientists and UN and country representatives gathered at the COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh just a few days ago.

Ambassador Véron said “The Philippines is highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons, flooding and earthquakes. The exhibition wants to be a message of hope, a reminder of our humanitarian obligation to save lives and help communities recover from natural disasters like Odette.”

In the parlance of humanitarians, the “last mile” is the final stage of the humanitarian relief chain, in which we make sure that we reach those most vulnerable wherever they are.

 EU Ambassador Luc Véron, with Erika Geronimo and Rhoda Avila of Oxfam Pilipinas.

The exhibition pays homage of the work of humanitarian workers in providing live-saving assistance in the aftermath of disasters and in helping communities recover. It also highlights the importance of preparedness, which was crucial in limiting the number of fatalities of a super typhoon such as Odette. Lastly, the exhibition is an expression of sympathy towards the victims of Odette and other disasters.

The exhibition features images captured by organizations who 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., National Rural Women’s Coalition, 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.

The exhibition was first presented in Siargao in August 2022. It will be open for viewing at S Maison, SM Mall of Asia until 30 November 2022.