Attachments
The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 183 countries.
In Brief
A PRELIMINARY EMERGENCY APPEAL WAS LAUNCHED ON 17 FEBRUARY 2006 FOR CHF 2,126,000 (USD 1.6 MILLION OR EUR 1.3 MILLION) FOR SIX MONTHS THIS REVISED EMERGENCY APPEAL - WHICH FOCUSES ON RECOVERY AND REHABILTIATION - SEEKS CHF 2,592,678 (USD 2 MILLION OR EUR 1.67 MILLION) IN CASH, KIND, OR SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS IN ASSISTING 8,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR 18 MONTHS.
CHF200,000 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FROM THE SECRETARIAT'S DISASTER RELIEF EMERGENCY FUNDS (DREF)
The situation
Following weeks of heavy monsoon rain, a massive landslide hit the barangay (village) of Guinsaugon in the Province of Southern Leyte in eastern Philippines on 17 February 2006, burying 281 houses and a school packed with elementary students under four metres of mud. The official number of confirmed dead stands at 154, while 972 people are reported missing, including 240 staff members and students from the local school. Rescue operations have ceased and the actual death toll may never be known. There are only 410 recorded survivors from Guinsaugon's original population of approximately 1,500 people. Final figures are still being compiled but about 8,000 persons were estimated to have been affected. This figure includes people from six barangays spread over the three municipalities of Liloan, St. Bernard and San Francisco, who have been evacuated due to imminent and permanent threats from unstable hillside foundations.
The barangays currently evacuated are: Catmon, Karnada, Ayahag, Nueva Esparanza, Magatar and Sug-Angon. Of these, the government has identified Magatar (66 families) and Sug-Angon (96 families) with needs for permanent relocation.
The attention has shifted from the immediate need to rescue survivors, and is currently focused on caring for the needs of 5,907 persons currently housed in 10 evacuation centres located in schools in three municipalities. This is beginning to pose a problem as children are unable to attend their usual lessons in the occupied classrooms.
For further information:
Philippines: Philippine National Red Cross, Mr. Raul Garganera, DMS Manager, Phone: +63 2 5270864, E-mail: iloilo@redcross.org.ph, or Mr. Victor Liozo, Jr. Secretary General, Phone: +63 9189137119, Email: pnrcnhq@redcross.org.ph
Thailand: Federation Regional Delegation, Mr Michael Annear (Head of Disaster Management Unit, Bangkok, Phone: +66 2661 8201 ext 430, E-mail: michael.annear@ifrc.org; Mr Bekele Geleta (Head ofRegional Delegation), Bangkok, Phone: +66 2661 8201 ext 100, Email: bekele.geleta@ifrc.org
Geneva: Asia Pacific Department, Charles Evans (Southeast Asia Regional Officer) , Geneva, Email: charles.evans@ifrc.org; phone +41 22 730 4320; or Sabine Feuglet,, Email: sabine.feuglet@ifrc.org phone+41 22 730 4349; ; fax 41 22 733 0395
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org
For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.
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