Philippines: UN and partners seek more funding to help tropical storm survivors

U.N. - Asia Pacific Friday 3rd February, 2012

The United Nations and humanitarian partners today revised upwards an appeal for funding to continue relief work for six months among the more than 300,000 people in the Philippines island of Mindanao who were affected by last year's tropical storm Washi.

The revised humanitarian action plan for Mindanao seeks $39 million, a $10.6 million increase over the $28.4 million requested in December, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.

"I have been tremendously encouraged to witness the tireless efforts of the Government, aid organisations, civil society and the affected communities themselves to provide vital assistance to hundreds of thousands of Sendong survivors," said Jacqui Badcock, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Philippines. The storm was also known locally as Sendong.

"Sustained, generous financial support is crucial to enable provision of basic goods and services and the rebuilding of resilient communities," she said.

The tropical storm lashed Mindanao and neighbouring areas from 16 to 18 December last year, bringing torrential rains which triggered flash floods and landslides.

Nearly 48,000 houses were damaged and the livelihoods of as many as 625,000 people were affected. More than 550,000 were forced out of their homes.

Seven weeks after the disaster, some 21,900 survivors remain in overcrowded evacuation centres in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and more than 400,000 people are housed in makeshift shelters by host families in their areas of origin.

Some people have returned to their damaged houses in highly hazardous and disaster-prone areas, recently declared by the Government as 'no-build' zones.

Some $9.6 million has been received in response to the appeal, including $3 million disbursed from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which is managed by OCHA.