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Philippines

WHO to provide US$42 000 for Philippines flood victims

MANILA, 28 September 2009-The World Health Organization (WHO) has committed support for the Philippine Government's health response to a tropical storm that flooded vast areas of the northern Philippines over the weekend. As an immediate response, Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO's Regional Director for the Western Pacific, has announced that WHO will provide PHP 2 million (about US$42 000) to support health needs in the wake of the floods.

Tropical storm Ondoy (international code name Ketsana), with maximum winds at the centre of 85kph and gusts of up to 120kph, hit Luzon island on 26 September 2009, including the national capital, Manila. The storm flooded villages and roads, sometimes covering entire homes, and forced thousands of families to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

A State of Calamity was declared in the affected regions. More than 435 000 persons are known to have been affected, with some 116 000 taking shelter in evacuation centers. Known casualties include 86 dead, 32 missing and 5 injured, while more than 7 000 persons were rescued. The number of casualties is expected to increase as reports come in from isolated areas.

The government has identified initial needs in terms of water supplies, emergency medicines and associated supplies, and both food and non-food items, especially for evacuation areas. Threats to the health of affected individuals include water- and food-borne diseases such as leptospirosis and diarrhea. There is also a greater risk of acute respiratory infection and injuries/wound infection from doing repairs after the floods. Health care waste management is also a priority.

Public and private hospitals were flooded in the storm and many have become inaccessible. Many hospital staff were not able to report for work because of the impact of floods on their own families and homes. Assessment of the damage to health infrastructure and systems is ongoing.

WHO joined UN agencies and government authorities to conduct field assessments of the situation. Reports are to be consolidated by today. WHO will continue to work through the existing UN coordination mechanism as well as with the Philippines Department of Health and other partners to ensure an appropriate and effective response to the calamity.

WHO continues to monitor the track of tropical storm Ketsana as it heads towards Viet Nam.

For more details, please contact Dr Art Pesigan at WHO's Western Pacific Regional Office in Manila, on +63-2-5289809 or +63-2-5289810, or email pesigana@wpro.who.int.