IOM today started to distribute water containers, hygiene kits and soap in the National Capital Region (NCR) to victims of the two typhoons that have struck northern Philippines in the past three weeks.

The kits, donated by USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), will help over 20,000 families displaced by the widespread flooding and devastation that followed the storms.

"This initial distribution will target the most affected communities in Pangasinan in Region I, Laguna in Region IV-A and Muntinlupa in NCR," according to IOM Regional Representative for East Asia Charles Harns.

Philippine government reports indicate that over 5,000 families remain in 98 evacuation centres in Pangasinan.

In Laguna, 13 municipalities remain underwater, affecting over 100,000 families.

In Muntinlupa, where 16,000 families have been affected, there are 21 evacuation centres. The area remains flooded with water levels roughly unchanged since the height of the disaster.

IOM has appealed for US$ 8.66 million to provide emergency shelter and non-food relief items for the victims, and to help the government organize evacuation centres and other displacement sites.

The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the European Commission (ECHO), and USAID (OFDA) have already committed nearly US$2.25 million, which will allow IOM to help some 61,000 families over the next three months.

Typhoons Ketsana and Parma hit the Philippines in quick succession on 26 September and 3 October, bringing chaos to much of Luzon island, including the capital Manila. Several areas in the north remain cut off by landslides and more than 500 people are known to have died.

For more information please contact Ida Mae Fernandez, Email: ifernandez@iom.int or Joanna Dabao, Email: jdabao@iom.int. Tel. + 63.02.848.12.60.