Philippines: Tropical Storm Ketsana and Parma Situation Report No. 6

This report was issued by OCHA New York based on inputs from the OCHA Regional Office for Asia Pacific (ROAP) and OCHA Philippines. It covers the period from 4 to 6 October 2009. The next report will be issued on 8 October.

For a full NDCC report on the Government response, please visit http://www.ndcc.gov.ph

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- Typhoon Parma (locally named Pepeng) made landfall on 3 October 2009 and affected more than 338,302 people (70,941 families), with 16 confirmed deaths and two people missing. To date, 85,863 people (19,184 families) are located in 460 evacuation centres, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

- Typhoon Parma had a devastating impact on the agriculture sector in Isabela Province, which raises food security concerns, as it is the main producer of corn and second producer of rice in the country, according to the Department of Agriculture.

- Further access to areas affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana (locally named Ondoy) on 26 September, and verification of data, resulted in higher recorded numbers of flood-affected. To date, the floods affected 3,929,030 people (805,740 families), with 295 confirmed deaths and 39 people missing. A total of 335,740 people are sheltered in 559 evacuation shelters.

- Approximately 16,094 houses were destroyed by the Tropical Storm Ketsana and 22,849 houses partially damaged, according to NDCC.

- Food, water, sanitation and hygiene relief remain the highest priorities. Government, IASC and UNDAC assessments of Typhoon Parma and Tropical Storm Ketsana are ongoing. Organisations are requested to coordinate assessments through the NDCC.

- The UN, in consultation with humanitarian partners and donors, has developed a Flash Appeal for $74 million to address needs in 13 sectors: Food, WASH, CCCM, Shelter and Non-Food Items, Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, Early Recovery, Agriculture, Logistics and Emergency Telecommunications, Livelihoods and Coordination. The appeal was launched in Geneva on 6 October, to be followed by a local launch in Manila on 7 October.

- In an all member states meeting at UN HQ New York, ERC Holmes briefed on Asia Pacific disasters including the typhoons Ketsana and Parma in the Philippines. The Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN complemented the ERC's address and thanked member states for their support in the disaster response.

II. Situation Overview

Typhoon Parma made landfall in Cagayan Valley (Region III) on 3 October, devastating the agricultural sector and affecting more than 338,302 people (70,941 families), with 16 confirmed deaths and two people missing. An estimated 85,863 people (19,184 families) are located in 460 evacuation centres, according to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) Natural Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), as of 6 October. Many roads are closed in sections due to water inundation and fallen trees or debris. Typhoon Parma weakened to a tropical storm and remains stationary over Luzon Sea, moving slowly north. Storm warnings remain in Ilocos North, with particular concern for residents in low-lying areas subject to possible flash floods and landslides, according to Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Agency (PAGASA) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC).

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and humanitarian partners continue to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana (locally named Ondoy) that made landfall on 26 September 2009. The affected regions for both storms include on Luzon Island: National Capital Region (NRC - Metro Manila), Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Ilocus Region (Region I), Cagayan Valley (Region II), Central Luzon (Region III), Calabarzan (Region IV-A) and Mimaropa (Region IV-B) and Bicol (Region V); Other flood-affected areas included Western Visayas (Region VI), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), Soccsksargen (Region XII) and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). (For reference, please access maps on http://www.un.org.ph).

The recorded number of people affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana continues to rise as access is gained to isolated areas and detailed assessments are conducted and data verified. The total number of affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana is 3,929,030 people (805,740 families), 295 dead and 39 people missing. The number of flood-affected displaced also increased due to access and verified data, with an estimated 335,740 people (70,739 families) located in 559 evacuation centres.