ACT Alliance Alert: Flooding in the Philippines

Alert  

The Philippines  

Flooding in the Philippines

Geneva, 9 August 2012

 1.       Brief description of the emergency and impact

Barely recovering from the devastation of Typhoon Saola, the Philippines was again battered by the Southwest Monsoon which brought torrential rains and flooded 1,529 villages and 30 cities. As of 9 August 2012 the non-stop rains have affected 454,093 families or 1,953,481 persons. A total of 61,895 families or 292,809 persons are staying in 488 evacuation centres while a total of 49,184 families or 245,636 persons are staying with their relatives and friends[1].

Non-stop rains that started in the evening of 6 August 2012 flooded many parts of Luzon Island submerging most of the cities and provinces. Floodwater in many villages reached up to the roof level. The Department of Agriculture estimates agriculture damage at US$3.6M (PhP152.13 M).  In terms of casualties, 19 people have been reported dead.

2.       Why is an ACT response needed

The rapid assessment conducted by ACT members indicates that there are still many affected areas where the government or non-government agencies have not reached yet. Such areas are in dire need of cooked food, drinking water, clothing, sleeping materials (blankets, mats and mosquito nets) temporary shelter and medicines. The urban poor communities in Metro Manila have suffered badly as their belongings have been washed away in the floods. The agrarian community in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog provinces have also suffered badly due to extensive damage to their standing crops. These communities will need recovery support.

3.       National and international response

The concerned government agencies particularly the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Department of Social Welfare and Development as lead agencies have responded to the situation through evacuation, search and rescue support and distribution of relief assistance. Some non-government organizations have also started responding to the crisis.

4.       ACT Alliance response and planned activities

ACT members in the Philippines which include Christian Aid, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) have been closely monitoring the situation. Christian Aid, UMCOR, and NCCP have responded initially to the emergency needs of the affected population through their own resources by distributing food packs and clothing. NCCP and Christian Aid have decided to issue an ACT appeal because their own resources at the moment are not enough to respond to the identified needs. Both members are conducting rapid assessments with their respective partners and networks which will be unified as basis for the issuance of an appeal.

5.       Planned activities

Based on the initial rapid emergency assessment, the most urgent needs are materials for temporary shelter, food, water, sleeping materials, hygiene kits and medicines especially for those who are still in camps, or whose houses are still submerged. Assistance for rehabilitation will also be needed which will be ascertained at a later time. A preliminary appeal will be submitted in next few days once the rapid assessment is finalized. Full appeal will provide a more detailed description of the response.

6.       Constraints

Accessing the areas, submerged under water, or where roads and bridges have been damaged, might be challenging. Further rainfall may also hinder the response and worsen the situation further.  

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)