08 October 2009

Key Developments on Philippines — Tropical Storms

Highlights current situation, U.S. humanitarian assistance in region

(begin fact sheet)

U.S. Agency for International Development
Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA)
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
October 5, 2009

Philippines – Tropical Storms

Fact Sheet

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• On October 3, Typhoon Parma, known locally as Pepeng, made landfall in the Cagayan Province of Luzon Island in the northern Philippines, with maximum sustained winds of approximately 92 miles per hour (mph). As of October 5, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GoRP) National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that Typhoon Parma has affected more than 238,000 people, causing 16 confirmed deaths, and displacing nearly 71,000 individuals to evacuation centers. Prior to landfall, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a nationwide state of calamity and ordered the pre-emptive evacuation of more than 45,000 residents in the direct path of Typhoon Parma.

•As of October 5 at 1700 hours Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the center of Tropical Storm Parma was is located approximately 345 miles north of Manila and expected to turn southwest in coming days, while re-intensifying over open water, according to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

•According to NDCC, Tropical Storm Ketsana, known locally as Ondoy, affected more than 3.9 million people, leaving 295 dead, while more than 335,000 people remained displaced in shelters.  According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), floods damaged or destroyed more than 10,000 houses.

•On October 5, USAID/OFDA increased its allocation to $1.8 million for emergency grants to humanitarian assistance organizations, including $500,000 to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) to support special relief operations, under a joint U.N. flash appeal, and $150,000 to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).  The remaining $1.15 million will be programmed based on ongoing assessment.

•On October 5, a USAID/OFDA military liaison officer accompanied a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) aerial assessment of the Lake Laguna region, Laguna and Rizal provinces, Luzon Island.  The U.S. Marine Corps plans to deliver GoRP relief supplies via helicopter to Talim Island, located in Lake Laguna, on October 6.

NUMBERS AT A GLANCE		SOURCE
Total Affected Population	4,167,279	NDCC - October 5, 2009
Dead	311	NDCC - October 5, 2009
Injured	9	NDCC - October 5, 2009
Missing	44	NDCC - October 5, 2009
Evacuated or Displaced	406,504	NDCC - October 5, 2009
Infrastructure Damage	11,367 houses as well as roads, bridges, schools, and agricultural land	NDCC - October 5, 2009

FY 2009 AND FY 2010 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING TO DATE

USAID/OFDA Assistance for Philippines Tropical Storms	$1,054,496(1)
DoD Assistance for Philippines Tropical Storms	To be determined
Total USG2 Humanitarian Assistance for Philippines Tropical Storms	$1,054,496

CURRENT SITUATION

• The October 5 DoD aerial assessment identified flooded shoreline communities on the west coast of Laguna Lake but identified passable roads with normal traffic flow starting approximately 1 mile inland.

• On October 2, OCHA reported that many affected areas remained without electricity or clean water, although local hospitals and health centers had a limited supply of electricity to serve patients.

• On October 2, the NDCC reported widespread concerns regarding effective targeting of distributions and difficulty of delivering assistance to affected populations remaining outside evacuation centers.  NDCC also reported a need for additional distribution points to reach flood-affected individuals remaining outside central metro centers.

• On October 2, the U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team deployed two assessment teams to Pateros City, following authorization by the GoRP Secretary of Defense.  The Secretary of Defense also authorized the GoRP Office of Civil Defense to provide support to UNDAC assessment teams where possible.

• On October 3, UNDAC team members conducted an assessment of areas in southern Luzon Island. The team reported an urgent need for potable water supplies and additional sanitation facilities in evacuation centers, as well as a need for waste management.

• On October 4, UNDAC team members conducted aerial assessments of Manila’s surrounding municipalities, revealing little civilian movement and significant remaining flooding throughout the area.

Humanitarian Coordination

• At the request of GoRP, the U.N. plans to issue a flash appeal for additional support on October 6.  The U.N. Resident Coordinator, U.N. staff, cluster leads, and GoRP officials met on September 30 to discuss the scope and management of the flash appeal, according to OCHA.

• As of October 2, IOM and the GoRP Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) anticipate holding the first U.N. Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster meeting on October 6.

• As of October 1, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) had released a preliminary emergency appeal to help the Philippines National Red Cross Society (PNRC) assist 100,000 storm-affected individuals during the next nine months.  IFRC has released $242,000 to the PNRC and the American Red Cross allocated $50,000 to PNRC for the immediate IFRC appeal.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

• On October 2, OCHA and humanitarian agencies reported ongoing concerns regarding adequate provision of safe water and sanitation in evacuation centers, as well as distribution of hygiene items to affected families.

• GoRP officials and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff continued to distribute hygiene items to affected families, and local GoRP authorities worked to rehabilitate pipe connections to evacuation centers.  In addition, the GORP Department of Health (DoH) was testing water samples and had distributed 240 temporary toilets to evacuation centers and other affected areas.

• The U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has requested water kits, scheduled to arrive by October 5, and the PNRC plans to provide water bladders at some evacuation centers.  However, the U.N. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster and implementing partners have noted an overall shortage of water tankering trucks throughout the affected region.

• The U.N. WASH Cluster held a meeting on October 3. UNICEF will support the GoRP in coordinating the cluster and liaison with GoRP bodies responsible for sectors including waste management, vector control, drainage, and water.

Emergency Food Assistance

• The U.N. Food Security Cluster held a meeting on October 2, co-chaired by the GoRP DSWD and WFP with significant participation from key NGO partners.  The cluster agreed to continue a coordinated food response, identified as a primary need.  WFP is targeting an estimated 1 million people in need of food assistance.

• The GoRP DSWD reported that food distributions took place at evacuation centers and at the household level, and the GoRP had released additional food resources for ongoing food assistance.

Health

• According to the U.N. Health Cluster, access for health partners remained unpredictable, as of October 2, although 19 mobile health units had conducted more than 6,600 consultations, primarily treatments for respiratory infections, wounds, and diarrhea.

• On October 2, health partners noted that care-based disease surveillance and health service coverage needed significant, urgent coverage, according to OCHA.

• On October 2, OCHA reported that the GoRP DoH had deployed 70 medical teams, 8 psychosocial teams, and 6 WASH teams to 70 evacuation centers.

Emergency Shelter and Relief Commodities

• On October 2, in coordination with U.S. Embassy in Manila and GoRP authorities, a USAID/OFDA charter flight delivered relief items including 340 rolls of plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, 3,360 hygiene kits, and 3,334 collapsible 10-liter water containers.  The PNRC received the commodities, which are sufficient to assist 20,000 flood-affected individuals.

• On October 4, OCHA noted the need for additional detailed assessments; however, initial assessment revealed that approximately 75,000 families cannot return home and require emergency shelter; approximately 30,000 will return home and require a returns package; approximately 7,000 families will require assistance to rehabilitate totally or partially damaged homes; and 300 evacuation centers will require rehabilitation support following population returns to areas of origin.

• On October 4, OCHA also stated that UNDAC assessments found significant numbers of families living in submerged housing in areas with limited access, representing an under-supported vulnerable group.

USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

• On September 28, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of Tropical Storm Ketsana.  In response, USAID/OFDA provided an immediate $100,000 through USAID/Philippines to the PNRC for the local purchase and delivery of emergency relief supplies.  Funding also will support cleanup efforts focused in the Manila metropolitan area.  USAID/OFDA has also allocated an additional $1.8 million for emergency grants to humanitarian organizations, to be awarded based on current assessments.

• On October 2, in coordination with U.S. Embassy and GoRP authorities, a USAID/OFDA charter flight delivered relief items including 340 rolls of plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, 3,360 hygiene kits, and 3,334 10-liter collapsible water containers.  The PNRC received the commodities, and plans to deliver the assistance to 20,000 flood-affected individuals.

• DoD Pacific Command provided equipment, transport, and logistics support, including 10 helicopters and six Zodiac boats for search and rescue efforts, to aid storm-affected individuals.  Engineers and medical personnel are also on site. DoD is conducting daily missions in the Manila metropolitan area, including road clearance and transport of goods and food, as requested by the GoRP and in coordination with USAID/OFDA.

• On October 5, the DoD accompanied by a USAID/OFDA field officer conducted an aerial assessment of Lake Laguna and plans an October 6 airlift of GoRP emergency relief supplies to Tamil Island as a result.

• A USAID/OFDA regional advisor and field officer remain in the Philippines to assess flood impacts and facilitate USG assistance, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and USAID/Philippines.

USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR PHILIPPINES TROPICAL STORMS
FY2010
Implementing Partner	Activity	Location	Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE /1
IOM	Response to IOM emergency appeal	Affected Areas	$150,000
WFP	Response to WFP Special Operations appeal	Affected Areas	$500,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA			$650,000
DOD
DoD	Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and Transportation	Affected Areas	To be determined
TOTAL DOD			To be determined
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN FY2010			$650,000
FY2009
Implementing Partner	Activity	Location	Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE /1
PNRC	Emergency Relief Supplies	Affected Areas	$100,000
USAID	Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics, and Transportation	Affected Areas	$293,709
	Administrative Cost	Affected Areas	$10,787
TOTAL USAID/OFDA			$404,496
DOD
DoD	Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics, and Transportation	Affected Areas	To be determined
TOTAL DOD			To be determined
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN FY2009			$404,496
FY 2009 AND FY 2010 HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO DATE
USAID/OFDA			$1,054,496
DOD			To be determined
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR PHILIPPINES TROPICAL STORMS			$1,054,496

1/USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of October 5, 2009.

PUBLIC DONATION INFORMATION

• The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations.  Information on organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in the Philippines is available at www.reliefweb.int.

• USAID encourages cash donations because they allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, warehouse space, etc); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; and ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.

• More information can be found at:

- USAID: www.usaid.gov – Keyword: Donations

- The Center for International Disaster Information: http://www.cidi.org or (703) 276-1914

- Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at http://www.reliefweb.int

USAID/OFDA bulletins appear on the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/

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1/ This amount includes $650,000 of USAID/OFDA’s allocation of $1.8 million.
2/ U.S. Government (USG)

(end fact sheet)