This report was issued by OCHA New York based on inputs from the OCHA Regional Office for Asia Pacific (ROAP) and OCHA Philippines. It covers the period from 1 to 2 October 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 3 October.
For a full NDCC report on the Government response, please visit www.ndcc.gov.ph
I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
- Typhoon Parma (locally named Pepeng) has weakened to a Category 3 Typhoon and is expected to weaken further before making landfall in Aurora and Isabela Provinces at midday local time on 3 October, according to PAGASA.
- Assessment teams gained access to Region III and Region IV-B, resulting in significantly improved records of affected populations. Nevertheless, the number of displaced has decreased, as people have started to return home. Access remains a challenge in some areas.
- Tropical Storm Ketsana affected more than 3,175,740 people (650,924 households), leaving 293 dead and 42 missing. A total of 650,924 people reside in 508 evacuation shelters. An estimated 4,207 houses were destroyed by the storm and floods and 5,933 houses were partially damaged, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
- Electricity supplies remain cut, with limited power supplies to the hospitals and health centres
- Humanitarian relief partners are concerned the emergency response will divert resources to the underfunded emergency in Mindanao, where 300,000 people remain internally displaced.
II. Situation Overview
On 26 September 2009, Tropical Storm Ketsana (locally named Ondoy) brought heavy rains that caused flooding in the capital city of Manila, the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) and 25 provinces in the northern island of Luzon. An estimated 45cm of rain fell in 24 hours. This is equivalent to a typical month's rainfall in the monsoon season. Towns east of Manila were submerged, with landslides in other parts of Luzon. Access for relief workers to many of the flood-affected areas remains a challenge, which is exacerbated by the rainfall connected to the approached Typhoon Parma. Water levels in Pasig City continue to rise, raising concerns of further flooding.
Relief efforts are further obstructed by the approaching Typhoon Parma forecast to hit Aurora and Isabela Provinces at midday local time on 3 October, according to PAGASA (see below).
Water services are not restored in Pateros, Cainta and Pasig. The humanitarian community is concerned about water rationing in the Evacuation Centres and will continue to advocate and monitor the situation.
MAP - Philippines: Tropical Storms - Evacuation Centre Overview (as of 02 Oct 2009)
