EMBARGOED TO THE MEDIA UNTIL TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2003, 1100 HRS NEW YORK TIME

Philippines

FLASH APPEAL

Executive Summary

The United Nations Flash Appeal seeks US$ 6.4 million to meet the relief and emergency rehabilitation needs of those affected by four consecutive typhoons and tropical storms.

In a span of three weeks in November and December 2004 landslides and flash floods resulting from these typhoons and storms caused widespread destruction, particularly on the Eastern coast of the main island of Luzon. As of 13 December, the Government reported 1,060 dead, 1,023 injured and 559 missing. Houses, infrastructure, and agricultural crops were wiped out and replaced by a thick layer of mud, fallen trees, and logs.

The Government of the Philippines, with the assistance of the international community and nongovernmental organizations, mounted an immediate relief operation. Helicopters and boats are being utilized to shuttle in food, drinking water and relief supplies and to evacuate the injured in those areas where road access is still impossible. Continued relief assistance is needed, particularly in these remote and inaccessible areas. Emergency rehabilitation activities require immediate support in order to restore provision of life-sustaining services.

The United Nations system in the Philippines responded instantly, with the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) meeting with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). The NDCC quickly indicated the urgent relief requirements and requested the United Nations Resident Coordinator to mobilize international assistance. The Resident Coordinator alerted bilateral and multilateral donors. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (pre-positioned funds from Ireland and Norway) provided emergency grants. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) responded with emergency programmes. The United Nations system in total has contributed US$ 1 million (including rapid emergency grants from Australia and New Zealand). In addition, international donors have contributed US$ 12 million bilaterally or through relief agencies, including US$ 7 million for significant airlift and logistics operations.

With the full agreement of the Government, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva dispatched a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team. The role of the UNDAC team was to support the response of the Government and the UNDMT. The in-country UN agencies, UNDAC, and a World Food Programme (WFP) expert conducted rapid assessments of the relief and emergency rehabilitation requirements in the disaster areas.
The United Nations system in the Philippines, on the basis of their assessment and the data provided by the Government, seeks US$ 6.4 million to meet the relief and emergency rehabilitation needs of the most vulnerable for a period of three months from mid-December 2004 to mid-March 2005. The Flash Appeal has been prepared in close consultation with the Government of the Philippines and the Red Cross movement – the latter will launch its own appeal concurrently. The Flash Appeal supports their efforts, and those of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in the critical phase in which the affected population are far from the attention of the international community but in urgent need of continuing relief and emergency rehabilitation assistance.

Priority sectors addressed in this Flash Appeal are:

Summary of Requirements By Appealing Organization
as of 13 December 2004

Summary of Requirements by Sector
as of 13 December 2004