Philippines: Tropical Storm Ketsana (Ondoy) Situation Report No. 2

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 29 to 30 September 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 1 October.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- The Government of the Philippines has shifted its response from emergency rescue and evacuation to relief operations. According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), 73,892 persons (31,333 families) were rescued by emergency services during the rescue operations, which began on 26 September.

- NDCC and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Country Team conducted a joint rapid needs assessment in the affected areas. Preliminary results of this assessment were released on 30 September. Priorities show needs for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); food; nonfood items (NFI); health; protection; and education.

- According to the latest NDCC figures, 246 people are confirmed dead, 42 missing and five reported injured. A total of 3,374 houses are damaged.

- NDCC also reports that 2,254,915 persons have been affected by the storm and subsequent flooding, with 389,616 people (78,892 families) located in 561 evacuation centres. A total of 346,581 persons (63,989 families) are living with host families. The recorded number of displaced persons is 736,197.

- Assistance from the Government, and from national and international sources, amounts to almost US$387,000 (PHP 18,361,749.30), according to NDCC.

- Members of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team arrived in Manila on 30 September. In addition to this seven-member team, the European Union (EU) will deploy a disaster specialist. Two Information Communications and Technology (ICT) experts from Singapore will accompany the team. The UNDAC team will assist the Government, the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC) and the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) with assessment, coordination and information management in the field.

- For a full NDCC report on the Government response, please visit www.ndcc.gov.ph