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Philippines

Philippines: IFRC warns of worsening conditions following deadly Tropical Storm Tembin

Manila/Kuala Lumpur 26 December —Four days after tropical storm Tembin made landfall in Mindanao, thousands of survivors are still in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

“Our teams in Mindanao are doing all they can to reach everyone who needs them. But the work is difficult and often slow,” says Philippine Red Cross Chairman Gordon. “Around the world, people are spending this time period with their families. For people affected by Tembin, what should be a peaceful time is instead full of uncertainty and fear. We need to help them.”

As responders reach the worst affected areas, details of the havoc wrought by Tembin (known locally as “Vinta”) continue to emerge. More than 500,000 people in 23 provinces have been affected. The national disaster risk reduction and management council (NDRRMC) confirms that 164 people have lost their lives to the flashfloods and landslides, with 176 are still missing. The number of casualties is expected to increase as the public authorities verify information being received from the provinces.

In addition to causing the loss of human lives and internal displacement, Tembin has substantially impacted shelter and livelihoods and caused damage to crops and critical infrastructure including roads, bridges and power transmission lines.

Volunteers and search and rescue teams from the Philippine Red Cross have been active since the hours before the storm made landfall, and are now working to reach people in need with water, food, and emergency shelter. Hot meals are being served, and welfare services provided in the evacuation centers, where over 50,000 people are staying after being evacuated prior to the landfall of the storm.

To support these efforts, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is joining the Philippine Red Cross in appealing for 2.8 million Swiss francs to assist more than 20,000 people affected by the storm in four of the worst affected provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Cagayan de Oro.

“People have gone through a massive shock. In just minutes, they lost everything, and then had to fight for their lives as walls of mud and water washed through their homes,” says Patrick Elliott, IFRC Operations and Programmes Manager in the Philippines.

“Now we must ensure that affected communities have immediate access to essential items and services including cash, food, water, sanitation, shelter and healthcare, as well to information, psychosocial support, and protection.”

In the Philippines
Richard Gordon
Chairman, Philippine Red Cross
+63 (0) 917 899 7898
chairman@redcross.org.ph

Patrick Elliott
+63 (0) 998 961 2140
patrick.elliott@ifrc.org

Mary Joy Evalarosa
+63 (0) 998 960 6291
maryjoy.evalarosa@ifrc.org

In Beijing:
Maude Froberg
+86 138 1009 6892
maude.froberg@ifrc.org

In Geneva:
Matthew Cochrane
+41 79 251 80 39
matthew.cochrane@ifrc.org