Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (14 - 20 November 2023)

PHILIPPINES

On 17 November, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Sarangani Island, Davao Occidental, Mindanao. No tsunami threat was issued but more than 60 aftershocks have been reported since. According to the latest report of the National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense Region 12, a total of 15,748 people or 3,587 families in 42 barangays across Region 11 and 12 were affected with confirmed 9 fatalities. The government and other local civil society partners are on the ground conducting rapid needs and damage assessments.

FIJI

On 15 November, Tropical Cyclone MAL passed Fiji as a category 3 tropical cyclone affecting some 230,000 people. As the eye of the storm was moving over open water, the affected areas sustained minor damage, primarily flooding, some destruction of crops, one landslide and some electricity outages. No deaths or injuries were reported. Initial Damage Assessments are currently being conducted in the Western and Eastern Divisions. Small distributions of NFIs and food rations have been provided by government authorities and humanitarian partners.

MYANMAR

Since the surge in armed conflict between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and various Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) in northern Shan on 26 October, fighting has expanded across numerous states and regions. The escalation is now the largest in scale and most extensive geographically since the early 2021 military takeover, impacting multiple areas, particularly northern and southern Shan, Sagaing, Kayah, Rakhine, and southern Chin. The fighting has led to an alarming rise in displacement with more than 286,000 people fleeing their homes since the intensification began less than a month ago. The total number of displaced people across Myanmar now exceeds two million. The conflict has severely disrupted key transport routes, impeding civilian movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid. The most urgent humanitarian needs among affected people are cash, food, safe shelter, non-food items and hygiene kits, basic health services and protection support. Faith and community-based organizations, as well as civil society partners, in collaboration with other humanitarian actors, continue to provide critical and lifesaving assistance to displaced and affected communities wherever access is possible using flexible approaches.