ReliefWeb

Highlights

• Recovery efforts are expanding, but acute humanitarian needs remain in affected areas, particularly in isolated and disadvantaged communities. Altogether, an estimated 14.1 million people have been affected, including 4.1 million who remain displaced.

• The rainy season will start at the end of January in some affected areas, meaning that short- and medium-term shelter solutions must be found beforehand. The Shelter Cluster is looking at a variety of options to address this urgent need.

• Reports of diarrhoea have increased, highlighting the need for better surveillance of communicable diseases in case of outbreaks.

• Cash assistance programmes are expanding, including programmes under way by the ICRC and in the pipeline among other partners.

• UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit the Philippines from 20-22 December. He is expected to travel to the affected areas on 21 December and also meet President Benigno Aquino III and senior Government officials.