SUPER TYPHOON HAIYAN PHILIPPINES SITUATION REPORT 5: NOVEMBER 15, 2013 HIGHLIGHTS 11.8 million People affected by the Typhoon 4,460 Reported Deaths 921,200 People Displaced 243,000 Houses Damaged or Destroyed Source UNOCH Nov 14, 2013 Volunteers from ACT member National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) packing relief items for distribution to the victim - Photo credit: NCCP Corrected version of ACT Preliminary Appeal issued on November 14th. CWS-Asia/Pacific team along with Dan Church Aid (DCA) have attended ACT forum coordination meeting as well as cluster coordination meetings focusing on food and Non Food Items (NFI). CWS-Asia/Pacific team is in Cebu, visiting to Northern Cebu along with ADRRN partners. Relief distribution is on its way for distribution. In cooperation with Dan Church Aid (DSA), CWS-Asia/Pacific team will work with partners to distribute relief items for 5,500 families from the following municipalities: o Northern Cebu province - Bogo, Medellin, and Daanbantayan municipalities o Eastern Samar province Hernani and Guian municipalities, and o Leyte province - Palo municipality. 1
SITUATION UPDATE Photo credit: ICAN OVERVIEW Barely recovering from the devastation of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, people in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol as well as in other parts of the country were once again hit by another disaster in the form of super Typhoon Haiyan (locally named Typhoon Yolanda). Typhoon Haiyan, considered the strongest typhoon ever, with sustained winds of 234 kph and gusts of 275 kph, made landfall in the Philippines on 8 November 2013. The winds, torrential rain and tide surges severely affected nine regions (Regions: IV-A, IV-B, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and CARAGA); 36 provinces, 39 cities, 343 municipalities and 1,741 barangays). According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) has affected an estimated 11.8 million people across nine regions (Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, Bicol, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga). Access to more areas and validation of figures added an additional 376,600 people to the total number of displaced. Overall, 921,212 people remain displaced (345,834 people in 995 evacuation centers and 575,378 people outside the centers). As of 13 November, the Government reported that 4,460 people have died. A total of 243,595 houses are damaged (131,106 houses are completely destroyed and 112,489 partially damaged). HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE EFFORTS On November 13, OCHA and the Government of the Philippines elevate the response to a Level 3 disaster. The declaration of a Level 3 emergency triggers the deployment (by Global Cluster leads and OCHA) of a senior inter agency team to fulfill core coordination functions including cluster and intercluster coordination, and specialized functions in information management and need assessments. Lack of access due to blocked roads and damaged infrastructure, along with insecurity, continue to hamper humanitarian response efforts. Humanitarian actors continue to face communication challenges, as well. A number of international agencies have food and water stocks prepared for distribution, but are on hold awaiting additional security forces from the Government due to concerns of staff safety in the face of large numbers of desperate people. On November 12, the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos, launched the Haiyan Action Plan to provide immediate, lifesaving assistance to populations affected by the typhoon with a flash appeal of $301 million. 2
ACT Philippines Forum members are currently conducting rapid assessments in the affected areas. However, there is severely limited communication as electricity and communication lines have been destroyed. For immediate response, National Council of Churches in Philippines (NCCP) has issued appeals for donations, in cash or in kind, to its member churches, friends and supporters and has opened its main building and members offices as drop centers for relief goods and other support. NCCP have responded initially to the emergency needs of the affected population through their own resources by distributing food packs and clothing. Member churches have also responded by opening up facilities and services to help families that were affected by the typhoon. The WASH cluster had its first meeting on 11 November and discussed reports from the provinces stressing the need for large generators for water systems, water treatment units, water trucking and water kits for household storage and transport as well as hygiene kits and sanitation. There is also lack of fuel for generators. There are great challenges in the response with lack of communication with communities in remote areas, debris on roads and lack of security. ACT members Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Christian Aid are carrying out a needs assessment to Leyte province. Some of ACT members are also considering creating a joint hub for cooperation and coordination in Cebu, as Cebu is a hub for logistics. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) emergency team is establishing a base in Cebu with a team leader, logistics officer and WASH advisor. NEEDS IDENTIFIED The rapid assessments conducted by NCCP and its member churches along with assessment reports sent by regional ecumenical councils and partner organizations, indicated that there are still affected areas that government and non-government agencies have not yet reached. Urgent needs include food, sleeping materials, water, blankets, tarpaulin, tents, medicines, mosquito nets, generators, hygiene kits and kitchen utensils. The massive destruction of houses prevents families from returning home. Thus, there is immediate and increasing need for plastic sheets for temporary cover and enclosed tents for families with vulnerable members. One of the most urgent needs is safe drinking water and hygiene kits across all affected areas as water pipelines may have been damaged and accessible water is not potable. There is acute lack of clean water, food for the population in all nine provinces where more than11 million people are affected. There are regular reports of looting, as people grow desperate for food and water. Women and children are in particular a vulnerable group. They are experiencing post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), thus extension of psychosocial support is needed. There is also an identified need to support early recovery of affected families through repair and construction of damaged houses. 3
CURRENT RESPONSE Photo credit: ICAN SUPPORT TO ACT ALLIANCE RESPONSE ACT Alliance has issued a corrected version of Preliminary Appeal with requesting outstanding balance of US$ 11,847,763. CWS has issued emergency appeal in the US to support this relief and recovery efforts by ACT forum members in the Philippines (http://www.cwsglobal.org/newsroom/appeals-and-updates/cws-continuessupport-efforts-haiyan.html). Please see http://www.actalliance.org/resources/appeals/phl131prel_haiyan_14nov13.pdf/view for more details on this preliminary appeal. The overall goal of the project is to contribute to the efforts of the affected communities in recovering from the devastating effects of the typhoon through the provision of relevant assistance that will cover their immediate needs, provide opportunities for early recovery and rehabilitation, and build up their capacities to better prepare and cope with disasters. One of the main goals is to save lives and alleviate human suffering by provision of clean water, sanitation and hygiene services. Members of ACT Philippines Forum: Christian Aid (CA), Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) are planning to provide assistance including food and non-food items, WASH, shelter, livelihood, psychosocial services, capacity building and disaster risk reduction. On November 14 th 15:00 Philippines time, 11 ACT members gathered at NCCP office for discussion over strengthening coordination among ACT members, representation in UN cluster system (for which CWS- Asia/Pacific and DCA will represent in Food and NFIs cluster chaired by WFP), secondment of staff, logistics and procurement, and security. Next ACT forum meeting will take place November 18 th 15:00. QUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SUPPORT CWS and LWR are closely collaborating to take a leadership role in advocating and supporting quality and accountability (Q&A) in the humanitarian response efforts taking in coordination Sphere, Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) and Core Humanitarian Standards. Discussions are ongoing on deploying a Q&A Specialist to the Philippines for a short-term assignment. 4
ASSISTANCE TO PARTNERS, PARTICULARLY ADRRN MEMBERS After initial assessments, PDRRN rapid assessment team headed to Dinagat Province today. The island has been hardly hit but people were resilient and are coping with the situation for the time being. However, there is an important need of emergency items (food, water and sanitation). Three staffs are deployed in two separate areas. PDRRN will continue wit the previous plan of intervention based on the 3 following phases: First Phase (First 2 months): Critical Life Saving Phase where food items and Shelter/WASH Items will be distributed to selected communities, in Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Bohol and Eastern Samar. Second Phase (second to third month): Transition from life saving towards recovery but still critical. Provision of home return kits as strategy under shelter since this can be a period where affected families will be trying to rebuild their homes or when evacuation centers are being closed and they are mandated for their immediate return. Third Phase (third to sixth month): Capacity Building, Advocacy, and Early Recovery Program (ERP): this is to capacitate affected population and LGUs on DRR and disaster preparedness. Moreover, with the ruins, livelihood is a critical issue and the need for restoration and rebuilding is foremost and will form part of the ERP. CWS-Asia/Pacific team is in Cebu at the moment, and will be traveling to affected sites in Northern Cebu with ADRRN members. CWS-Asia/Pacific team is also working with partner called International Children s Action Network (ICAN) Foundation for assistance in Leyte. ICAN is also a member of Japan Platform, and it is CWS-Asia/Pacific s wish to coordinate between JPF members and ADRRN response as much as possible. In total, for initial phase, in cooperation with DCA, CWS-Asia/Pacific team will work with partners to distribute relief items for 5,500 families from the following municipalities o Northern Cebu province - Bogo, Medellin, and Daanbantayan municipalities o Eastern Samar province Hernani and Guian municipalities, and o Leyte province - Palo municipality. Distribution is expected to start early next week. CWS-Asia/Pacific will keep promoting and supporting ACT Alliance response, while providing assistance to ADRRN members for their response. For further information, please contact Mae Managbanag Deputy Director Tel: +63 908 102 1016 (Philippines) Email: mae@cwspa.org.pk Takeshi Komino Head of Emergencies Tel: +66-2-2146077, Fax: +66-2-2146078 Email: takeshi@cwspa.org.pk 5