Philippines Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 26 | 01 – 31 July 2014

HIGHLIGHTS

• Typhoon Rammasun brings winds of 130 kph and guests of 185 kph in the Philippines first typhoon of 2014.

• Underfunded emergency CERF allocation assists with emergency health posts.

• IOM partners local government to identify alternative evacuation centres.

• Plans for World Humanitarian Day on 19 August.

FUNDING

Typhoon Haiyan

781 million requested (US$)

59% funded

Zamboanga Action Plan (revised)

12.8 million requested (US$)

45% funded

Source: Financial Tracking Service

First typhoon of the year makes landfall

Typhoon Rammasun (locally known as Glenda) made landfall in Albay in the Bicol region on the afternoon of 15 July and exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on 17 July. It was the first typhoon of 2014 to make landfall in the Philippines since the beginning of the monsoon season.
Rammasun travelled through South Luzon, Albay and Metro Manila before heading towards Bataan bringing torrential rains and winds of 130 kph, with gusts of 185 kph. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council ((NDRRMC), 24 July) reported 98 deaths and 630 injuries, while five people remain missing. Approximately four million people (887,391 families) were affected in seven regions, with the largest numbers in Region V (1,984,129 people) and Region IVA (1,372,751 people).
The response was managed at regional level with prepositioned food and non-food items, medicines, logistics and telecoms, while two C130 aircraft and helicopters were available through the government. There was significant damage to infrastructure, housing and communications, in some areas.
In Region VIII, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported 116,967 affected families (around 534,686 individuals) with 55,644 displaced families (246,152 individuals) at the height of the typhoon. Many people said they had gone to the evacuation centres (ECs) out of personal preference, rather than wait for instructions for fear that Rammasun would prove as strong as last year’s Typhoon Haiyan. The number of damaged houses amounted to 72,129 of which 9,561 were totally damaged according to the latest DSWD numbers.

This was the first time the Government’s new response approach of augmenting the capacity of affected regions with a twin province from an unaffected area was available.

The Humanitarian Coordinator remained in close contact with government counterparts while the Humanitarian Country Team was on standby to assist with pre-positioned stocks; however no assistance was required in this instance. The Philippines is affected by more than 20 typhoons each year.