UN SEEKS $6.4 MILLION TO HELP PHILIPPINES IN WAKE OF STORMS

 

NEW YORK, 15 December (OCHA) -- Today, the United Nations launched a flash appeal to meet the relief and emergency rehabilitation needs of those affected by four consecutive typhoons and tropical storms that left some 1,500 people dead or missing over the past few weeks.  The appeal was prepared in close consultation with the Government of the Philippines and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.

The United Nations flash appeal, seeking a total of $6.4 million, covers humanitarian programmes to meet the needs of some of the estimated 650,000 people affected by the storms for the next three months.  The largest component of the appeal seeks $2.7 million for emergency food aid to assist people in communities where crops have been destroyed.  Another urgent need is for shelter as the Government of the Philippines estimates that some 30,000 houses were damaged or destroyed by the spate of storms.  The United Nations is therefore seeking some $2 million to provide families with emergency shelter and basic household items.  As floodwaters have destroyed both clean water and sewage facilities, the United Nations appeal seeks some $200,000 for programmes to prevent the spread of water-borne disease.

In a span of three weeks in November and December, landslides and flash floods resulting from these typhoons and storms caused widespread destruction, particularly on the eastern coast of the main island of Luzon.  As of 13 December, the Government reported 1,060 dead, 1,023 injured and 559 missing.  Houses, infrastructure, and agricultural crops were wiped out and replaced by a thick layer of mud, fallen trees, and logs.

The Government of the Philippines, with the assistance of the international community and non-governmental organizations, mounted an immediate relief operation.  Helicopters and boats are being utilized to shuttle in food, drinking water and relief supplies and to evacuate the injured in those areas where road access is still impossible.  Continued relief assistance is needed, particularly in these remote and inaccessible areas.  Emergency rehabilitation activities require immediate support in order to restore provision of life-sustaining services.

The United Nations system in the Philippines responded instantly, with the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) meeting with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).  The NDCC quickly indicated the urgent relief requirements and requested the United Nations Resident Coordinator to mobilize international assistance.  The Resident Coordinator alerted bilateral and multilateral donors.  The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (pre-positioned funds from Ireland and Norway) provided emergency grants.  The OCHA also provided a disaster assessment and coordination team (UNDAC) to assist in organizing relief efforts.  The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) responded with emergency programmes of their own.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHANY, 917 367 5126, mobile:  917 892 1679; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, 41 22 917 2653, mobile:  41(0) 79 473 4570.

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