CERF allocates $3.9 for humanitarian relief to Mindanao

CERF provides $3.9 million been in a state of low-intensity conflict since 1968. The conflict, combined with the impact of clan feuds and natural disasters, has resulted in cycles of displacement.

Populations in remote areas are increasingly susceptible to chronic poverty and experience multiple vulnerabilities, such as lack of access to clean water, malnutrition and access to livelihoods, all of which are exacerbated by the impact of conflict and recurrent natural disasters.

As of January 2012, an estimated 698,000 people are in need of humanitarian relief, protection and livelihood support in Mindanao. In addition, there has been an increase in the number of people affected by emergencies as a result of the July 2011 floods and Tropical Storm Washi, which struck the Philippines in December 2011.

In response, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated US$3.9 million dollars to six UN agencies and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from the underfunded emergencies window.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) was given a grant of $899,000 to support protection activities of civilian communities affected by and at risk of displacement in Mindanao, benefiting more than 150,000 people. The World Food Programme (WFP) was provided $893,000 to provide assistance to 398,000 IDPs, returnees and other food insecure households in Mindanao, including 79,000 children under the age of 5. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was provided $800,000 by CERF to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene interventions for affected families in central Mindanao. A grant of $500,000 was given to the IOM for emergency shelter and information management support to conflict and disaster-affected areas of Mindanao. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) received $297,000 to restore agricultural livelihoods in conflict-and food-affected communities. A grant of $297,000 was given to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to provide more than 17,000 people access to reproductive health services, while another grant of $100,000 was given to the agency to address gender-based violence prevention and response to cases among internally displaced persons. Funds totalling $271,000 will support the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to provide access to essential health care for 120,000 people, including 24,000 children under the age of 5.

Update on 26 March 2012

CERF Funding by Country (2012) - Project Detail Philippines (01/01/2012 to 29/03/2012)