1. Philippines - Heavy rains hamper humanitarian activities in Bopha-affected areas. The revised Action Plan was launched in Manila on 25 January asking for US$76 million. As of 19 Jan, nearly 6,500 people are displaced in evacuation centers while nearly 845,000 are displaced outside of formal centers.
   Source: OCHA

2. Indonesia - Mt. Rokatenda erupted on 3 Feb resulting in the evacuation of a number of villagers. The local authorities distributed 11,000 masks to villagers remaining on Palue island, where the volcano is located.
   Source: OCHA

1. Philippines - TC Bopha (Pablo) struck the southern Philippines in early December. The risk of floods and landslides due to heavy rains persists in typhoon-affected areas hampering humanitarian activities. The revised Action Plan was launched in Manila on 25 January asking for US$76 million. A low pressure area continues to affect areas in Mindanao causing flash floods and a landslide affecting nearly 40,000 people.
   Source: OCHA

Highlights

• Tropical Cyclone Evan was stationary over Samoa for approximately 24 hours.

• The Ministry of Police has confirmed that there have been two casualties.

• The whole of Samoa is without electricity, which may not be restored for up to two weeks.

• The whole of Samoa is without water, except for critical services such as the hospital.

• Tropical Cyclone Evan is predicted to pass close to Niuafo’ou in northern Tonga as a Category 3 tropical cyclone on Sunday.

In brief

This programme update focuses on the work of the Asia Pacific zone office in the first six months of 2010 to provide leadership and guidance to the International Federation efforts to increase the impact of Asia Pacific national societies' humanitarian activities. Many societies across the zone have maintained a high level of programming in several new disaster response operations and continued comprehensive post-disaster recovery activities, while others have started

The Asia Pacific region is tragically living up to its reputation as one of the most disaster-prone regions of the world with four near-simultaneous disasters - devastation from Typhoon Ketsana and torrential rains in the Philippines and Viet Nam in South East Asia, and a strong earthquake followed by a tsunami on the Samoan islands, in the Pacific. In addition, at the time of writing, a 7.9 earthquake was