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Philippines

Humanitarian agencies seek US $143.7 million in revised appeal for Philippines typhoon disasters

(Manila/New York, 17 November 2009): International humanitarian organisations yesterday requested more than US$ 143.7 million in a revised Flash Appeal to support the Government of the Philippines in responding to the effects of a series of typhoons that ravaged the country since September. This revised Appeal is planned to run from November 2009 to March 2010.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Financial Tracking Service (FTS), only $26 million was received following the initial Flash Appeal in early October requesting $74 million. New Government data and detailed assessments by United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) show that the overall number of people in need stands at 4.2 million out of the 10 million people affected in all areas. Those in need include more than 520,000 children under the age of five.

Of particular concern for humanitarian agencies are the estimated 1.7 million people still displaced or living in areas that remain flooded. These areas are likely to remain flooded for another three or four months, putting those affected at serious risk of disease outbreaks.

In Northern Luzon, the Philippine's main agricultural region, the timing and extent of the natural disasters have severely affected the critical planting season. According to preliminary assessments conducted jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 100,000 and 120,000 farming households or half a million people lost 100 percent of their production and assets.

Tropical Storm Ketsana swept across Manila and parts of Central Luzon on 26 September 2009, bringing months worth of rain in just 12 hours. On 3 October, Typhoon Parma made landfall in Northern Luzon, reversing track twice and bringing heavy rains over an area much larger than initially anticipated. Parma was followed by Typhoon Mirinae on 31 October, the third typhoon within a period of just over a month.

Requesting humanitarian agencies include UN agencies, the International Organization for Migration and several NGOs.

For further information, please call: OCHA-New York: Stephanie Bunker, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 347 244 2106, bunker@un.org; Nicholas Reader +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org; John Nyaga,+ 1 917 367 9262, mobile +1 917 318 8917, nyagaj@un.org; OCHA-Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs,+41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.

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