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Philippines

Philippines: Typhoon Xangsane (Milenyo) - Information Bulletin n° 1


The Federation’s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.

In Brief

This Bulletin is being issued for information only, and reflects the situation at this time. CHF 100,000 has been approved from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). This will enable an immediate response ahead of the results and recommendations of ongoing assessments. Unearmarked Funds to repay DREF are needed. A preliminary appeal is expected to be launched by the end of Monday October 2. The Federation may communicate separately as the typhoon hits the Central Coast of Vietnam today (Sunday October 1). 180,000 people have been evacuated from coastal provinces.

The International Federation undertakes activities that are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to achieve the Federation's mission ‘to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity’. Goal One is reduced number of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the National Society profile, please access the Federation’s website at http://www.ifrc.org

The Situation

The Philippines, particularly prone to disasters, has been severely struck by typhoon Milenyo in recent days. The typhoon reached average wind speeds of up to 185 km and surprised communities who lacked sufficient warning. It left in its wake death and destruction. The typhoon, first hitting the Eastern Samar region, gained strength as it moved west northwest and swept further through Albay, Camarines Sur, Ormoc City, Sorsogon and Catanduanes provinces, resulting in massive flooding and landslides. Its fury was also felt in Metro Manila the following day. With communications systems and the electricity grid being disrupted, at least 43,061 families were confirmed by the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) chapters as having been affected (as of 6:00pm on September 30). Caution is needed on the below figures; as communication is being restored with affected barangays, more reports of people being affected and damage are coming in.

The PNRC, seen as the most reliable source of actual figures and estimates of damage, confirms at least 51 persons are dead, at least 195 injured while at least tens are reportedly missing. The death toll is expected to rise as the search continues for those still unaccounted for. New reports of landslides are being verified and will almost certainly further increase the number of those killed and injured. So far, at least 14,000 houses have been destroyed and 24,000 damaged. A total of 132 evacuation centres have been set up by local authorities in stricken areas.

In Laguna, the PNRC chapter reported that 31 people had died in floods and a landslide as of September 30, 2006. At least 3,283 houses are destroyed and another 8,768 damaged.

The Camarines Sur chapter reported three casualties, including a 6-month old boy who was squeezed under a collapsed wall. The province experienced massive flooding. At least 1,676 houses were destroyed and another 6,126 damaged.

In Eastern Samar, the PNRC chapter reported a total of 329 families affected in 7 barangays.

PNRC chapters based in Metro Manila reported that more than 1,000 families have been affected in Manila, Pasay, Taguig, Marikina and Paranaque cities.

In badly-hit Sorsogon, the PNRC chapter reported that 5,427 houses were destroyed while 3,005 were damaged.

The Antique chapter reported that 421 families from 23 barangays in three municipalities have been affected.

In total at least 13,602 houses are reported destroyed in 21 provinces and 23,790 severely damaged, affecting at least 197,268 persons.

Search and rescue operations are being conducted by the competent Government agencies and PNRC. General relief is being provided by DSWD and PNRC.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Action

At the onset of these severe events, PNRC disaster response teams (DRTs) were deployed to make damage assessment and determine the needs of affected communities. Three parallel assessment teams, consisting of PNRC and Federation regional relief, health, water and sanitation, psycho-social support and logistics experts, will conduct in-depth assessments in Camarines Sur, Laguna, Albay-Legaspi and Sorsogon as of tomorrow. They will update the PNRC daily of their findings to allow for immediate action and provide a comprehensive analysis and action plan before the end of Friday 6 October. The International Federation is expected to launch a preliminary appeal on Monday 2 October to provide the PNRC with the means to support the most affected during the emergency phase.

To date, some 4,774 families have already received food assistance (rice, canned goods, noodles) from local PNRC chapters.

PNRC has deployed large numbers of volunteers who are engaged in search and rescue, assisting families in the reception centres and the clean up of roads.

At the PNRC national headquarters, round-the-clock monitoring is maintained through the disaster management operation centre.

Cash advances of PHP 800,000 (CHF 20,500) from the Society’s Disaster Management Services, and 400 sacks of rice (through a local branch of the National Food Authority) have been made available to various chapters in typhoon-hit areas. The PNRC chairman in a press statement called for support to sustain the humanitarian efforts for the thousands of families affected by Typhoon Milenyo.

Coordination with the relevant national and local authorities and other local partner agencies in disaster management is being maintained both in the field and at headquarters level.



For further information:

The Philippines: Ms. Corazon Alma G. de Leon, PNRC Secretary General, Email: hsl@skyinet.net ; Phone: +63.2.52.0854; or Mr. Benjamin Delfin II, DMS Manager, Phone No. +63.2.527.0864, +63.2.444.0103 Email: benjamindelfin@yahoo.com

Federation Delegation in the Philippines: Mr. Roger Bracke, Head of Delegation, Email: roger.bracke@ifrc.org, Mobile: +63.917.880.6844 Telefax: +63.2.524.3151

Federation Regional Delegation in Bangkok: Mr. Bekele Geleta, Head of Regional Delegation, Email: bekele.geleta@ifrc.org, Phone: + 66.2.661.8201 ext. 100, or Mr. Michael Annear, Head of Regional Disaster Management Unit; Email michael.annear@ifrc.org, Phone: + 66.2.661. 8201, or Mr. Alan Bradbury, Regional Programme Coordinator, Email: alan.bradbury@ifrc.org, Phone: + 66.2.661.8201

In Geneva: Southeast Asia Desk: Mr. Gert Venghaus, Southeast Asia Desk, Email: gert.venghaus@ifrc.org, Phone: +41.22.730.4258, Fax: + 41.22.733.0395

For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation’s Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation’s website at http://www.ifrc.org