TC-2006-000175-PHL
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 185 countries.
In Brief
THIS EMERGENCY APPEAL SEEKS CHF 10,547,314 (USD 8,637,057 OR EUR 6,587,671) IN CASH, KIND, OR SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS IN ASSISTING 1,030,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR NINE MONTHS.
Appeal History:
Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated in September 2006: CHF 100,000 (USD 80,000 or EUR 63,291).
Launched on 2 October for CHF 5,704,261 (USD 4,563,408 or EUR 3,610,292) for three months to assist 126,000 beneficiaries.
Revised 19 October for CHF 5,704,261 (USD 4,563,408 or EUR 3,610,292) for nine months to assist 126,000 beneficiaries.
DREF allocated 1 December for CHF 100,000.
Re-launched 4 December 2006 for CHF 8,833,789 (USD 7,318,798 OR EUR 5,552,350).
The Philippines was hit by a series of deadly and destructive typhoons in a span of ten weeks (25 September to 10 December 2006). These events affected 62 of the country's 79 provinces, triggered land and mudslides, widespread flooding and together with the associated high winds, caused loss of life, destruction and damage to homes, infrastructure and agriculture.
The Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC), supported by the Federation, responded to this succession of disasters efficiently and effectively. However, the magnitude of the typhoons' impact has overwhelmed local and national resources. The PNRC has requested the Federation to facilitate international assistance.
This appeal re-launch is undertaken based on recent assessments conducted by the joint PNRC and Federation field assessment and coordination team (FACT) and the regional disaster response team (RDRT). It seeks additional funds to meet the urgent relief and early recovery needs of those most affected by the recent typhoons. The appeal also attempts to address the cumulative impact of the disasters, the scope of which was not fully understood initially.
In light of the scale of the catastrophe that has been uncovered by recent assessments, the total number of beneficiaries is being increased from 200,000 to over one million people. Of these, some 75,000 individuals will be assisted to reconstruct their homes. Others will benefit from the improved access to health and care, safe water and adequate sanitation.
The International Federation undertakes activities that are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".
Global Agenda Goals:
Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.
Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.
Appeal history/chronology of events
25 September - 1 October, 2006: A low pressure area develops into a tropical depression and is named Xangsane or Milenyo in Filipino language. It intensifies into a tropical storm on 26 September and into a typhoon on 27 September. The typhoon makes landfall over East of Catarrman, Northern Samar. Intensifying further, it approaches Sorsogon province in the afternoon and by 11pm, batters Sorsogon and Albay provinces with gusts of up to 185 km/h.
The fury of the typhoon is felt in Metro Manila on 28 September where power and communication grids become seriously disrupted. A state of emergency is declared over Southern Luzon province. Torrential rains cause flooding and trigger landslides in the province of Laguna, Cavite, Quezon. Disaster forces thousands of people into various public facilities as evacuation centres.
Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) deploys its volunteers and staff to support the evacuation of families and assist some of the most vulnerable through hot meals and emergency food items. Multi-sectoral assessment teams are dispatched from the headquarters to the most affected regions. The Federation's disaster relief emergency fund (DREF) allocates CHF 100,000 (USD 80,000 or EUR 63,291) to support the national society's emergency response efforts. A new tropical storm is expected and people in large areas of the Philippines brace themselves for yet more havoc.
2 October 2006: The urgency of the need and complexity of the logistics, as a consequence of the sheer size of the affected areas, do not allow the waiting for final results of the assessment teams and the Federation. Following consultations with the PNRC, a preliminary emergency appeal is launched for CHF 5,704,261 (USD 4,563,408 or EUR 3,610,292) to assist 126,000 beneficiaries for three months. The immediate priority includes mobilizing international resources to support the national society in meeting emergency food, health and psychological needs of the affected population. The full impact of the typhoon, however, remains unclear as several regions cannot yet be reached. Communication networks and electricity grids are seriously damaged by the typhoon.
19 October 2006: Donor response to the preliminary appeal remains very low reflecting inadequate attention by national and international news media, partly a result of major disruptions in the electricity grid and telephone systems following the disaster, and the absence of an explicit request for international assistance by the Philippine authorities. By now, communication with some of the affected regions has been re-established. Red Cross gathers more information and a more accurate (but also more worrying) picture starts to emerge. Assessment teams conclude that the actual damage caused by Xangsane is far higher than originally expected and well beyond the coping capacities of the local communities and authorities. The Federation issues a revised emergency appeal extending the timeframe of the operation for another six months.
27-29 October 2006: A month after typhoon Xangsane, the country is hit by another typhoon, of category 5. This super typhoon emerges on 27 October as an active low pressure in the east Bicol region. It soon develops into a tropical storm and is named Cimaron, or Paeng in Filipino language. The storm intensifies into a typhoon on 28
October and makes landfall over the southern Isabella province. Several barangays (villages/administrative units comprised of 100- 1,000 families) in Aurora province are cut off as roads and bridges are destroyed. Large areas are left without communications. Red Cross distributes emergency relief items. The national society's efforts are supported by the regional disaster response team (RDRD), mobilized by the Federation following the PNRC's request.
12 November 2006: Yet another typhoon Chebi (local name Queenie) batters the same areas as those hit by Typhoon Xangsane and Cimaron. Thousands more families are seriously affected. Many are injured. Crops, livelihoods and buildings including health centres and schools are destroyed. Several roads are blocked by mudslides, debris and broken bridges. Red Cross is on a high alert. PNRC, supported by the RDRT delivers emergency aid to the affected families and establishes a tent camp in the city of Calamba to accommodate 87 families. In parallel, distribution of construction materials to the families affected by the Typhoons Xangsane and Cimaron is ongoing.
30 November 2006: Another typhoon, Durian (local name Reming), carves a path of destruction across central Philippines, especially in the areas of Catanduanes, Camarines, Sorsogon, Albay, Mindoro, Marinduque, Batangas and Laguna. Early estimates indicate that at least 300 people are killed, almost 400 are missing, more than 500 are injured and unknown numbers of residents are trapped in the homes. It is estimated that at least 600,000 people are affected by Durian, as well as previous storms over the past two months. The full scale of the disaster is yet unknown as communication lines are disrupted and some areas are inaccessible.
PNRC sends out its staff and volunteers to offer first aid and conduct rescue operations. The Federation, which is closely monitoring the situation, deploys two disaster response and assessment teams and releases additional CHF 100,000 (USD 80,000 or EUR 63,291) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Philippine Red Cross in initial rescue, assessment and relief distribution activities.
3 December 2006: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declares a state of national calamity.
4 December 2006: The Federation re-launches the appeal for CHF 8,833,789 (USD 7.3 m or EUR 5.5m) to take into account the fourth successive typhoon that wrecked havoc in the country in a span of two months.
5 December 2006: As the scale of the disaster becomes apparent, the PNRC asks the Federation for more support. On 5 December, the national society is joined by the Federation's 18-member team to help with assessment of emergency and longer term community needs. The team is made up of specialists from around the world, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Mongolia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Finland, Thailand, the United States, Iceland, India, Nepal, and Georgia.
10 December 2006: Yet another typhoon Utor (local name Seniang) hits the country, the fifth this year. It affects over 100,000 people in nine provinces destroying over 10,000 homes and damaging close to 15,000. Scheduled field visits by RDRT/FACT are hindered. Assessment is on hold as the flights to the affected provinces are cancelled. Weather conditions force team members in Manila to delay their departure while other two Federation assessment teams are grounded in the provinces and communication with them is disrupted.
12 December 2006: Danish Red Cross IT/Telecom emergency response unit (ERU) arrives in Manila to help the PNRC improve its in-country communication systems. PNRC response to typhoons is also supported by three French Red Cross delegates. In consultation with the PNRC, the Federation drafts a preliminary plan of action for shelter that takes approximately 80 percent of the total appeal.
13 December 2006: As soon as the weather conditions permit, the Federation re-assumes the assessment. Teams are sent to work with the PNRC in Albay, Quezon, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Marinduque and Mindoro - the worst affected areas - to look into further needs in health, water and sanitation. In parallel, the PNRC continues to effectively support populations affected by the devastating storms.
15 December 2006: After consultations with the PNRC and based on their recent findings, FACT and RDRT members finalize the operation plan of action on which this appeal re-launch is based.
Map: Philippines: Typhoons - Plan of action
For further information:
Philippine National Red Cross: Corazon Alma De Leon (secretary-general); email: hsl@skyinet.net; phone: +63.2.527.0854; or Benjamin Delfin II (manager of disaster management services); email: benjaminedelfin@yahoo.com; phone: +63,2.444.0103;
Federation country delegation in Philippines: Roger Bracke, Federation representative, phone: +63 917 880 6844 (office) or +63 2 527 6227 (mobile); email: roger.bracke@ifrc.org
Federation Southeast Asia regional delegation in Thailand: Bekele Geleta (head of regional delegation); email: bekele.geleta@ifrc.org; phone: +66.2.661.8201 ext 100; Alan Bradbury (regional programme coordinator); email: alan.bradbury@ifrc.org; phone: +66.2.661.8201; or Michael Annear (head of regional disaster management unit); email: michael.annear@ifrc.org; phone: +66.2.661.8201
Federation Secretariat in Geneva (Asia Pacific department): Gert Venghaus (regional officer); email: gert.venghaus@ifrc.org; phone: +41.22.730.4258; fax: fax: +41.22.733.0395; or Sabine Feuglet (senior assistant); 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 for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For longer-term programmes in this or other countries or regions, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for national society profiles, please also access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org