Attachments
Overview
Sixteen NetHope Members are present in the affected areas to conduct needs assessments and distribute emergency supplies. Power and internet connectivity are sorely needed for humanitarian organizations to provide assistance and coordinate their efforts and for the affected communities to communicate with their loved ones. As of this report, NetHope received additional requests for two sites bringing the total connectivity requests to 12 sites throughout Caraga, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Central Visayas, and Negros Occidental. In addition, the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) has requested support from NetHope to provide telecommunications equipment. On December 28, NetHope deployed an Emergency Response Coordinator to the Philippines to conduct further assessment of connectivity requests and coordinate provision of support with NetHope Members and other humanitarian organizations.
NetHope is prepared to launch a disaster response for Typhoon Rai (Odette). Scale and scope of the response depend upon member requests for connectivity, funding, and technical resources. NetHope continues to work through its Members, the ETC, local organizations, and service providers to understand equipment and technical expertise needs and supply. NetHope is launching a funding appeal for its response to Typhoon Rai (Odette).
As of December 29, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reports a total of 1.4 million families or 5.4 million individuals were affected by Typhoon Rai (Odette) in 7,017 barangays (villages) in Regions V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, MIMAROPA, and Caraga. Figure 1 in the PDF illustrates potentially damaged structures and buildings in the City of Carcar and San Fernando municipalities, Cebu province, and Region VII. While the government successfully conducted pre-evacuation of areas in the path of the typhoon, there remains 577,276 people displaced according to DSWD.
This figure includes nearly 88,051 families or 354,207 persons displaced and are currently taking temporary shelter in 1,488 evacuation centers as well as 67,099 families or 223,069 persons temporarily staying with their families and friends in Regions VI, VII, VIII, X, MIMAROPA, and Caraga. The United Nations (UN) and humanitarian organizations in the Philippines are calling for $107.2 million to support the Government of the Philippines in providing immediate lifesaving and protection activities for the next six months. Of this, an estimated $1 million is required for the provision of emergency telecommunications services.
Power and mobile connectivity are slowly being restored. The typhoon left 284 cities and municipalities without electricity. To date, power supply in 57% of cities and municipalities impacted have already been restored as of December 29. There are 371 areas in Regions VII, VIII, IX, X, MIMAROPA, Caraga, BARMM which are still experiencing communication outages/issues. Some major cities and economic hubs, including Cebu and Puerto Princesa, as well as large areas in Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Southern Leyte, remained without or intermittent power and mobile connectivity. These are the same areas where NetHope Members have ongoing operations and established response coordination centers. Full operational conditional is still six months away according to estimates from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). Mobile service has not changed since the last situational report. Connectivity remains intermittent at best. Networks are still severely congested. Figure 2 shows the state of network coverage in the areas along the direct path of Typhoon Rai (Odette) as of December 26. The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) was activated and will deploy connectivity services first in Surigao City, the coordination hub, and up to four additional locations. The ETC, in collaboration with the national and local governments, designated the eastern side of Region VIII, northern Mindanao, and southern Visayas as humanitarian priorities and where the provision of connectivity services will be prioritized.