Attachments
Period covered by this update: 10 October to 16 December 2012
Appeal target (current): CHF 1,772,243
Appeal coverage: With contributions received to date, the appeal is 77 per cent covered in cash and kind. Further contributions are needed to meet the needs of affected families.
Summary: In early August 2012, Philippines experienced massive flooding caused by non-stop rains brought by the southwest monsoon. The floods affected more than four million people, displaced 500,000 others, and damaged or destroyed more than 14,000 houses in the capital Manila and neighbouring provinces. Some four months on, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continues to provide assistance to affected families, with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Distribution of food and non-food relief items was completed, and a post-distribution survey was undertaken in October 2012. An additional 900 families were provided with food and non-food packages based on continuous monitoring by respective PRC chapters. This brings the total number of families supported with food and non-food items under this operation to 15,900, exceeding the 15,000 target.
The distribution of hygiene kits was completed during the reporting period, with all the targeted 10,000 families having received the kits. Assessments were undertaken to identify families in need of additional relief, specifically in areas along Laguna Bay that remain flooded. The assessments identified 950 families that remain evacuation centres or ‘tent cities’. Planning has advanced to provide the most vulnerable families with cash grants which they can use to obtain food, personal hygiene items and other essential items pending their return to their homes.
Safe drinking water distribution under this operation was completed in the previous reporting period, with up to 305,000 litres delivered to some 4,500 families in evacuation centres. Community sanitation initiatives such as cleaning campaigns, de-clogging and improvement of blocked drainages as well as the distribution of cleaning kits to targeted evacuation centres were completed during this reporting period. The IFRC field delegate and water and sanitation engineer supported PRC in undertaking detailed assessments to identify schools to be assisted with construction or rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities. Five schools – two in Laguna and one in Rizal – were identified, although the number to be assisted remains contingent upon funding received.
Detailed assessments to determine the early recovery needs of the most affected communities were undertaken during October and November, with support of a household economic security (HES) delegate seconded by British Red Cross. A plan of action for the delivery of early recovery support using cash-based programming has since been developed. Orientation of PRC chapters and targeted communities has been done and piloting is scheduled for early January 2013 prior to the rollout the programme starting late January. Beneficiaries will use the grants to recoup lost assets or re-start disrupted livelihood activities.
To date, contributions to the emergency appeal have been received from Red Cross Red Crescent partners, government partners and institutional donors. Partners include American Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross Society/Canadian government, Danish Red Cross/Danish government, Finnish Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross Society, The Netherlands Red Cross/Netherlands government, Republic of Korea National Red Cross, Red Cross of Monaco, Swedish Red Cross/Swedish government, and Swiss Red Cross. Substantial contributions have been received from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (DG-ECHO) as well as the World Health Organization/Voluntary Emergency Relief Fund (WHO/VERF).
On behalf of PRC, IFRC would like to thank all partners/donors for their generous and invaluable contributions to this appeal. Further contributions are needed and encouraged to enable PRC to meet both early recovery needs of flood-affected families, rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities in schools and to support PRC’s preparedness for response capacity.