This report covers the period 1 January to 30 June 2008

In brief

Programme(s) summary:

The Annual Appeal to support the Philippines National Red Cross Society (PNRC) focuses on organisational development, with an emphasis on expanding its volunteer base throughout the country, as well as increasing its capacity in disaster management and health and care.

Financial situation:

The total budget for 2008 is CHF 2,158,657 (USD 1.93 million or EUR 1.31 million). Unfortunately, to date, there have been no contributions to this appeal, and therefore no expenditure under

This report covers the period of 01/01/06 to 31/12/07 of a two-year planning and appeal process.

In brief

Programmes summary: The East Asia regional office has supported country delegations and national societies in the management of their programmes, coordination and cooperation amongst partners, the incorporation of humanitarian values, and capacity building at all levels.

Through funding from the appeals, the national societies of the East Asia region have been able to strengthen their current programmes in disaster management and health and care, and

This year, three key developments have influenced WHO's emergency work: 1) the increasing demands from Member States to strengthen WHO's emergency response operations; 2) the implementation of the humanitarian reform, resulting in new responsibilities for WHO; and 3) lessons learned during recent crises. A wide range of strategies and initiatives have come to fruition as a result of intensive work with WHO's regional offices, other humanitarian partners, and donors.

A six-year strategy on strengthening country capacity for risk reduction and emergency preparedness has been

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation, Incorporated (HFHP) recently signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction of 495 core shelter units for families displaced by disasters in the Bicol region.

Under the agreement, DSWD will release some P34.6 million as its counterpart for the construction of the housing units. Total project cost is P42.075 million. The HFHP, on the other hand, will hire labor workforce among the beneficiaries to maximize their participation.

This appeal seeks CHF 4,424,819 (USD 3,779,850 or EUR 2,651,072) to fund the planned programmes that are to be implemented in 2008-2009. The overall budget is CHF 18,357,332 (USD 15,684,750 or EURO 10,997,176).

This appeal briefly covers the main outcomes the programmes seek to achieve over the next two years. More detailed information is provided in the 2008-2009 Programme Support Plan and Summary Matrix .

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease,

They Work On 50 Houses In Bicol Express Build

MANILA, 12th October 2007: When some 800 volunteers arrived in the typhoon-struck Bicol region for a build with Habitat for Humanity Philippines, incessant rain was the unexpected welcome. Undaunted, some removed their shoes, others donned raincoats but all soldiered on in Anislag village, Daraga town, where 25 duplexes, or 50 houses, were to be built in partnership with typhoon-affected families. Each duplex comprises two adjoining houses.

The volunteers were taking part in a

The China Red Cross Society on Aug.23 offered 900,000 yuan (about 120,000 U.S. dollars) worth of supplies to provinces hit by typhoon Sepat.

The supplies, including 220 tons of rice, 240 tents and 5,000 cases of instant food, have been sent to Hunan, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in central and southeastern China, according toa spokesman of the Chinese Red Cross.

The society's branches in Zhejiang, Hunan and Fujian have allocated more than 2 million yuan (about 263,000 U. S. dollars) to the relief work.

By last Wednesday, Sepat had killed 39

CHANGSHA, Aug 23, 2007 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- More than 588,000 people have been evacuated in central China's Hunan as rivers swell in the wake of typhoon Sepat, which has left two people dead and seven missing in the province.

Major tributaries of the Xiangjiang River in Hunan have reported dangerous or even record water levels on Thursday after torrential rains swept the province for five days.

Two people have been confirmed dead and seven are still missing in Hunan from the rainstorms since Sunday, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

CHANGSHA, Aug 21, 2007 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- More than 130,000 residents in central China's Hunan Province were forced to evacuate their homes as typhoon Sepat headed inland on Tuesday.

Hunan Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said that in the 48 hours to 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, torrential rains poured into drainage system of the Xiangjiang River, while the upper reaches of the Mishui River, a tributary of the Xiangjiang, also flooded.

Worst hit by the concentrated rainfall were the areas of Zixing, Rucheng and Anren in Chenzhou, as well as Yanling