Philippines: Landslide OCHA Situation Report No. 7

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/25
OCHA Situation Report No. 7
The Philippines - Landslides

This situation report is based on information provided to OCHA by the UN Resident Coordinator's Office and the Philippines National Disaster Management Center

I. SITUATION

As of mid-day local time yesterday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported 107 fatalities, 19 injured and 580 registered survivors of the landslide that occurred on 17 February in the village of Guinsagon, Southern Leyte Province. The number of missing is estimated at 980. This reflects an increase over previous reports in the number of bodies recovered as well as those registered as survivors.

There are currently eight evacuation centres in the vicinity of St. Bernard which are housing approximately 2,975 people including the former residents of Guinsaugon, those from two neighbouring villages that were partially affected by the original landslides, and those from villages in the vicinity that have been pre-emptively evacuated. Two of these centres have been opened in recent days in efforts to address concerns of overcrowding in the six original centres.

Pre-emptive evacuations have taken place in three other municipalities of Southern Keyte - Sogod, Liluan and San Francisco - where geo-hazard assessments indicated that there were high levels of risk of additional landslides. Work is currently underway to confirm the number of families that have been evacuated in these municipalities.

The Office of Civil Defense has estimated that the landslide has resulted in approximately Php 92.2 million in damage to infrastructure and Php 22.6 million in damage to agriculture in the area.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

Search and rescue efforts were temporarily suspended today after members of the rescue team from the Province of Taiwan had to be pulled out of dangerously shifting mud. The National Disaster Coordinating Council reports that the total number personnel from national and international agencies pursuing search and rescue operations and providing relief and medical services has risen to 1,846.

The quantity of relief supplies in the pipeline is sufficient to meet the needs of those in the eight evacuation centres. The Government has emphasized that they will ensure an integrated approach is taken to ongoing needs assessment. It has also welcomed the opportunity to partner with the humanitarian community and international military forces in addressing public health and child protection issues in the evacuation centers. The Governor of Southern Leyte Province, who is leading the coordination structure at the provincial level, announced that a working group will soon be established to address the long-term reconstruction and resettlement issues for the area.

Please refer to OCHA Situation Reports 1 - 6 for details of the national response in the previous days.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

A 43-person Indonesian team of engineers, doctors and psychologies arrived in St. Bernard to offer assistance to those affected by the landslides. A Spanish team of 6 personnel and dog teams is also on location.

The Government of the Republic of India has dispatched aircraft containing 34 tons of relief goods including tents, medicine, blankets and pre-cooked food. The OPEC Fund for International Development has approved a grant for $150,000 for relief supplies.

An Interagency Coordination Group has been established and is functioning relatively well with the participation of national and international partners. Sectoral working groups have become more structured and are undertaking joint assessments and making recommendations to the Government and Interagency Coordination Group.

The logistics working group has developed a strategy to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of supply management. The Department of Social Welfare has requested that the working group ensure that the Mayor's office is prepared to mange the process after the departure of relief organizations. UNICEF has recorded 30 orphaned children and is working with other members of the children in emergency working group to ensure that protection concerns are addressed. The working group has also emphasized the need to be vigilant with regard to the possibility of child trafficking. The health working group agreed that Plan International would provide water tanks at evacuation centers while Oxfam would provide water pails for individual families. The military is currently providing temporary latrines at the evacuation centres.

In efforts to strengthen information management in support of coordination, Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF) is initiating data collection for a 'Who's Doing What Where' database.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is supporting the Philippines National Red Cross with the provision of a tracing team to facilitate family reunification and a forensic expert to assist with the identification of bodies.

Two United Nations Disaster and Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) team members continue to support coordination in St. Bernard. Another member of the team supports the Tacloban logistics hub. The UNDAC team leader will accompany the Deputy Executive Director of the National Disaster Coordinating Council to Guinsagon and St. Bernard tomorrow.

The United Nations Country Team has developed a 10-point action plan for supporting the Government in the areas of response, contingency planning, recovery and long-term preparedness and disaster risk reduction. Work is ongoing to mobilize resources to support the utilization of in country technical expertise in these areas.

Please see OCHA Situation Reports 1-6 for details of assistance providing in previous days.

IV. PRIORITY NEEDS

Emphasis is being placed on improving the water, sanitation and health services in the evacuation centers. Cases of mumps, conjunctivitis and respiratory problems have been reported. A multi-agency assessment team assessed two of the eight centres today and will continue these assessments tomorrow. It is felt that local authorities have sufficient capacity to address the current issues of concern.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council has indicated that it requires support with public information activities to provide timely information to evacuees. Computers to assist with supply management and the tracking of evacuees are also needed. To date operational communication and telecommunications for coordination has been provided the Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF) and the UNDAC team.

V. REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

The Government of the Philippines welcomes international assistance but has not issued a formal request.

This situation report, together with the information on contributions and other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

MAP: Philippines: Floods and landslides - Situation map

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In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:

Ms. Merete Johansson, direct Tel. +41-22-9171694
Mr. Megan Gilgan, direct Tel. +41-22-9171558

Press contact:

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126