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Philippine Typhoons Durian and Utor Update

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

 

 

Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

 

Current Status

 

A relief caravan of approximately 250 vehicles arrived in Camarines Sur province today (Wednesday, December 13) in the Bicol region in Southern Luzon, which was struck by Typhoon Durian on November 30. The relief caravan, which includes government and private aid groups is called the Mayon Mercy Mission, is also due to arrive in Legazpi City, Albay province, where hundreds of people were killed in mudslides triggered by Durian on the slopes of Mount Mayon. Aside from relief goods, the caravan also has reconstruction materials and personnel. Arroyo yesterday (Tuesday, December 12) authorized 10 billion pesos (US$203 million) for the relief and rehabilitation of areas affected by Durian and four other typhoons that have recently affected the country. The UN reports that more than 7 million people have been affected by five typhoons since September. As communication lines have been repaired, reports of casualties and damage from Typhoon Durian continues to rise. According to the latest NDCC figures for Durian, at least 720 people have been confirmed dead and 762 others missing. Another 2,360 people have been injured. About 3.2 million people have been affected, while nearly 96,000 people were in 531evacuation centers. Durian’s damage is now estimated to be more than 5.084 billion pesos (US$103 million). National and international aid efforts also continue in the affected area. Meanwhile, the death toll from Typhoon Utor (local name: Seniang), which swept through the Central Visayas and Southwestern Luzon regions over the weekend, rose to 17 today. The typhoon passed just south of areas affected by Durian in Southern Luzon, and caused about 434 million pesos (US$8.7 million) in damage. However, evacuees that fled into shelters from Utor have started to leave. (NDCC, Phil Inq, OCHA, Dec-12)

 

Impact

 

·       Affected:

 

Durian

3,190,744 persons in 3,042 barangays in 160 municipalities in 14 provinces in: Region IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal)

Region IV-B (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon)

Region V (Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon – Bicol region). (NDCC, Dec-13) Highest numbers in Camarines Sur, Albay and Masbate provinces. (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

Utor

393,342 persons in 409 barangays in:

Regions IV-B (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon provinces)

Region V (Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon – Bicol region)

Region VI (Aklan, Antique. Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Palawan provinces – Western Visayas)

Region VII (Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor – Central Visayas)

Region VIII (Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte – Eastern Visayas) (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

·       Evacuees:

 

Durian

From almost 700 evacuation centers, there remain 488 evacuation centers providing temporary shelter to 89,325 people, mostly in Bicol. (Dec-12, GOP)

 

Utor

39,604 persons in 83 evacuation centers (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

·       Damaged houses:

 

Durian

214,400 totally and 328,218 partially (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

Utor

3,969 totally and 12,332 partially (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

·       Affected areas:

 

Durian

Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, parts of Camarines Norte and Sur, Marinduque, Batangas, Quezon and Luzon.

 

Utor

Southern Luzon and Visayas regions. Tacloban City and Biliran province placed under state of calamity. (Phil Inq, Dec-12)

 

·       Infrastructure damage

 

Durian

 

Infrastructure damage estimated at 3.49 billion pesos (US$70.5 million). (Dec-13, NDCC)

 

No power in whole province of Albay; Camarines Norte has 80.98% power; Camarines Sur has 20.72% power; No power in whole of Sorsogon. (Dec-12, NDCC)

 

Dept. of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) said that next heavy rainfall could result in flooding in Albay because several dams and dikes around Mount Mayon have been destroyed. Damage in Albay alone estimated at 1.2 billion pesos (US$24.3 million) and could take several years to repair. Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seimsology) and DPWH to carry out survey. DPWH pledged to send additional 58 million pesos (US$1.2 million) to Bicol. (Dec-12, Phil Inq)

 

Government plans to resettle residents in danger/high-risk areas. Identified resettlement sites are in Anislag, Darag; Banquerohan, Legazpi City; and San Andres, Sto. Domingo. (Dec-12, GOP)

 

In Catanduanes, Albay and Carmines Sur provinces, NDCC reports that damage to medical facilities and power outages seriously hampering emergency medical services. (Dec-10, OCHA)

 

Widespread communications outages remain in most affected areas. Two mobile phone companies generally working in Camarines Sur and Albay during downtimes during the day. Only means of communication in Catanduanes is Single Side Band (SSB-HF) radio with links to Legaspi City in Albay and NDCC OPCEN in Manila. (Dec-10, OCHA)

 

National Transmission Corp. (Transco) set target of restoring all power lines in Bicol by December 25 by setting up a temporary Emergency Restoration Systems. Estimated cost is 1 billion pesos (US$20,000). (Phil Inq, Dec-07)

 

Department of Education (DOE) says 2,321 schools have been completely or partially destroyed with repair estimated at 1.13 billion pesos (US$22.7 million). DOE has released 200 million pesos (US$4 million) for repairs. (Dec-08, UNICEF, Manila Times)

 

Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH) conducting clearing operations in Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Catanduanes. (Dec-04, NDCC)

 

Utor

 

Quezon province has 96.67% power; Calapan City has 60% power; Panay has 90% power. Caticlan-Boracay, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Biliran provinces without power. (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

Roads in Central and Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas destroyed by Utor. (Phil Inq, Dec-11)

 

·       Economic damage

 

Durian

NDCC says agriculture damage estimated at 3.486 billion pesos (US$70.4 million). (Dec-13, NDCC)

 

Department of Agriculture said that impact on national and regional rice and corn production is very minimal because most crops have already been harvested. (Dec-11, NDCC)

 

Utor

124 million pesos (US$2.5 million) for agriculture and 310 million pesos (US$6.3 million) for infrastructure. (Dec-13, NDCC)

 

Priority Needs and Requirements (for Durian-affected areas)

 

NDCC Priority Needs:

1.)   Emergency shelter – Individual household tents

2.)   Health – Disease surveillance, medicines and vaccines, power generation for hospitals in priority location

3.)   Food – Rice, noodles, canned goods, mongo beans, dried fish, infant food

4.)   NFIs - Sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, adult and children’s slippers, kitchen utensils, transistor radios with batteries, candles, flashlight with batteries, jerry cans (20-liter capacity), cooking stoves, adult and children underwear, and hygiene kits (bath and laundry soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, face and bath towels, etc.)

5.)   Water - Water tanks for water storage and daily use. (Dec-10, OCHA)

 

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Priority Actions:

1.)   Sustaining relief operations,

2.)   Disease surveillance,

3.)   Harmonization of damage and needs assessment activities

4.)   Completion of search and retrieval of the dead.

 

Intermittent rains being experienced in the affected areas pose additional challenge to humanitarian workers and victims alike as these could give rise to common ailments like cough, colds, respiratory and skin infections. (Dec-10, OCHA)

 

Urgent relief items are available and can be purchased in the country; provincial officials of affected areas request that purchases be made, as far as practicable, in their localities to pump prime economic activities. (Dec-10, OCHA)

 

Government Response

 

President Gloria Arroyo said government allocated 10 billion pesos (US$203 million) for relief and rehabilitation of areas affected by Durian and three other recent typhoons. (Dec-12, GOP)

 

Estimated cost of assistance by NDCC, DSWD, DOH, Local government units (LGUs), NGOs and other GOs amount to 66.86 million pesos (US$1.4 million). (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

Government organized 248-vehicle convoy on 12 December to bring relief and medical aid to the victims of Typhoon Durian in the Bicol Region. 44 government agencies and 16 NGOs, as well as private groups and foreign governments, joined aid efforts. (GOP, Dec-12) Caravan arrived in Pili, Camarines Sur and is expected in Legazpi City, Albay by December 14. (Phil Inq, Dec-13)

 

Search and retrieval operations in affected areas extended until December 15, 2006. (Dec-10, OCHA)

 

Relief operations terminated in Region IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal) on December 5. (GOP, Dec-08)

 

NDCC and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) facilitated total of 13 sorties carrying relief goods (food, medicine, shelter items etc), manpower and equipment to Virac, Catanduanes and Legaspi City, Albay. Facilitated release of 22,100 sacks of rise worth 18.79 million pesos (US$380,000) for Region V. (NDCC, Dec-13) NDCC deployed one water purification systems to Camarines Sur province capable of generating 32,000 liters of drinking water daily; two units capable of 120,000 liters daily to Albay. (OCHA, Dec-10)

 

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided relief supplies to provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Virac, Catanduanes worth over 29.5 million pesos (US$242,000). (NDCC, Dec-12) Sent 13-member team of social workers to assess disaster operations and conduct critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) sessions for survivors. (Dec-12, GOP)

 

Department of Health sent four teams conducting rapid health assessment and disease surveillance. Distributed medicines, medical supplies and body bags to Bicol region, amounting to over 2.7 million pesos (US$55,000). (NDCC, Dec-12) Working with WHO on more specialized assessment of urgent health needs building on earlier rapid needs assessment conducted by NDCC and UN Country Team. (Dec-10, OCHA) Reports 117 cases of diarrhea from evacuees in Legazpi City. Improvement in availability of water supplies in most evacuation centers. However, required number of shelter and latrines remains inadequate. (Dec-13, NDCC)

 

Department of Agriculture plans assistance to farmers, including subsidies, rehabilitation, crop seeds, fish stock and veterinary supplies worth over 6.4 million pesos (US$130,000). (NDCC, Dec-10)

 

Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) pledged to send additional 58 million pesos (US$1.2 million) to Bicol. (Dec-12, Phil Inq)

 

Utor

 

NDCC facilitated release of 800 sacks of rice to Oriental Mindoro and Cebu. Estimated total government assistance is 1,600,000 pesos (US$32,000). (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

Philippine Army conducting clearing operations in Mindoro provinces. Provincial disaster agencies and local government units conducting emergency relief and recovery operations. (NDCC, Dec-13)

 

National Response

 

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) served 845 families in five evacuation centres in Albay Province. Food and NFIs donated through PNRC were airlifted to Albay, Catanduanes and Marinduque Chapters via military C-130 flights for distribution to the affected families. (OCHA, Dec-10) PRNC assessment teams have been monitoring impact of typhoon in Sorsogon and Albay (team 1) and Camarines Sur and Quezon (team 2). (IFRC, Dec-11, IFRC)

 

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) sent construction equipment and 269 construction personnel as part of government’s national relief caravan. Will stay in Bicol for one week. (Phil Inq, Dec-12)

 

Makati city government sent 5 million pesos (US$100,000) in aid to Bicol. (Phil Inq, Dec-12)

 

Local and foreign companies joined the Mayon Mercy Mission to conduct job fairs in Camarines Sur and Albay. (Manila Times, Dec-14)

 

International Response

 

 

Bilateral contributions from Indonesia, Singapore, Spain, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Israel and United States have amounted to US$ 3,010,740. (Dec-10, OCHA)

 

United Nations

 

UNOCHA has approved US$2.6 million aid package to be funneled through UN agencies including UNDP, WHO and UNICEF. Funds will be used to purchase equipment and relief supplies for affected residents in Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol. (Dec-12, ABS-CBN) CERF (Central Emergency Response Fund) is intended for local purchase to further support local economy.

 

CERF Assistance is broken downs as follows:

 

Health (WHO): US$ 411,000

Nutrition, Water/Sanitation and Hygiene (UNICEF): US$ 450,000

Food Aid and Logistics Support (WFP): US$500,000

Emergency Shelter, WFIs and Logistics (UNDP/IOM): US$600,000

Emergency Family Care and Support Packages (UNICEF): US$350,000

Emergency Maternal Care (UNFPA): US$243,255

Agriculture (FAO): US$100,000

(Dec-12, NDCC)

 

UNICEF led UN inter-agency assessment team to Albay on 5 December and provided 4,000 family packs (Dec-5, OCHA) UNICEF mobilized and dispatched some US$450,000 worth of shelter and NFIs. Aid will be distributed to 16,700 families in the five worst affected provinces. (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

World Health Organization (WHO) giving priority to distributing potable water, as well as water purification tablets. WHO says officials must ensure care for survivors instead of shifting resources to mass burials, in an attempt to dispel the belief that corpses breed disease. (Dec-7, INQ7) WHO is sending four New Emergency Health Kits – each sufficient to support 10,000 people for three months. (Dec-10, WHO)

 

NGOs/IOs

 

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) In Albay, ADRA provided 550 families with assistance. In Quezon and Batangas, 350 families received food aid. ADRA will sponsor a medical team to provide 6,000 families with assistance. Another 780 families in Bicol will receive aid, while ADRA will assist 142 homeless families build shelters. (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

CARE using US$70,000 from its emergency response fund. Assessing damage in Catanduanes and Albay. Planning to dispatch emergency experts from offices in region and CARE emergency group in Geneva. (Dec-7, CARE)

 

Christian Aid arranging delivery of 1,000 emergency shelters. A further 5,200 most vulnerable people receiving shelter items, and 3,300 food packs distributed. (Dec-11, Christian Aid)

 

DHL Express Asia Pacific committed 4 trucks to transport relief supplies from DSWD’s warehouse in Pasay City to Bicol. (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

Global Medic, a Toronto-based NGO, to deploy an Emergency Rapid Response Team to bring supplies to Bicol. (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) sent out its latest appeal of US$ 7,318,798 to support the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) to assist 200,000 beneficiaries for nine months. (IFRC, Dec-04) Sent 11-member FACT/RDRT (regional disaster response) team from South Asia and Southeast Asia; three delegates from French Red Cross, and IT/telecom emergency response unit (ERU), and delegate from regional logistics unit of Asia Pacific Service Center (APSC). (Dec-13, IFRC)

 

IFRC objectives are:

 

- At least one week of emergency food ration for approximately 25,000 families (125,000 affected persons), representing one-third of the families who lost homes and belongings.

 

- Basic household kits for 12,500 families, representing one-sixth of the families who lost homes and belongings.

 

- Selective construction materials and tools to repair 5,000 severely damaged houses.

 

- Better overall hygiene to 25,000 families to prevent an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

 

- Stress debriefing and immediate psycho-social support to affected people.

 

- Community-based disaster management (CBDM) training and organization of barangay disaster action teams (BDAT).

(IFRC, Dec-11)

 

Lutheran World Relief is responding to the situation with US$15,000 contribution through ACT. (Dec-7, LWR)

 

MAP (Medical Assistance Programs) International distributing antibiotics for 500 families. (Dec-11, MAP)

 

Mercy Malaysia provided humanitarian services in Albay and coordinating with DOH Regional Health Unit and will distribute hygiene kits (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

Mercy Relief sending first four-member disaster response team to set up mobile teams in worst-hit areas on Wednesday (December 13). (Dec-13, ChannelNews Asia)

 

Oxfam is sent out public health experts to assist staff on the ground. Provided water and hygiene kits directly to 30,000 people in Albay. (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

Plan International pledged US$80,000 to cover basic emergency requirements of survivors in Albay province; US$350,000 committed by international headquarters and US$1 million for immediate and long-term response in Albay, Camarines Sur and Marinduque Provinces. (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

Save the Children mobilizing initial response. Two alliance members, SC United States and SC Sweden have worked together during the Leyte mudslide. (Dec-7, SC)

 

Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines providing relief support and free clinics to over 2,300 families over a period of four days, staring on December 12 in Guinobatan, Legazpi City and Daraga in Albay. (Dec-13, Tzu Chi)

 

World Vision sent staff were to Albay to establish Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) until the end of December. (Dec-5, WVI) WVI) WV also preparing a two-year US$6 million rehabilitation proposal to respond to affected families’ long-term needs. (Dec-8, WVI) Relief items, including NFIs and food, distributed for 56,000 people. (Dec-10, NDCC)

 

Foreign Governments

 

Canada funded water plant (144,000 liter/day capacity) in Bicol. (Dec-8, NDCC) Inflatable hospital to be installed in Camalig, water purification tablets worth US$1.4 million to be distributed. (Dec-10, NDCC)

 

France providing 100,000 euros to Philippine Red Cross. (Dec-6, GOF)

 

Japan sending eight-member team of engineers and geologists to Albay to assess damage and give recommendations. (Dec-12, Phil Inq)

 

Malaysia sent two C-130 loads of supplies that are arriving in Legaspi City on December 13 due to delay from Typhoon Utor (Dec-12, NDCC)

 

Singapore: Sent relief supplies worth some US$50,000 (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

Thailand donated 1,000 sacks of rice. (Dec-11, AP)

 

USAID has provided USD$250,000 as immediate cash assistance to relief organizations to procure relief items and for recovery programs. Relief goods worth some US$130,000 to PNRC from US arrived on Thursday (Dec 7). (Dec-7, INQ7)

 

Vietnam is sending 500 tons of rice by ship. (Dec-8, NDCC)

 

Background

 

Typhoon Utor is the fifth typhoon to strike the Philippines since September. In late September, Typhoon Xangsane (local name: Milenyo) cut across Luzon, leaving over 250 people dead in the Philippines and Vietnam. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines since 1998. Like Durian, which struck on November 30, Xangsane had cut through southern Luzon and northern Visayas. It caused millions of dollars in damage to the Philippines and some damaged areas are still recovering from the effects of Xangsane. In October, powerful Typhoon Cimaron (local name: Paeng) killed 19 people and injured 58 others. Earlier in November, Typhoon Chebi (local name: Queenie) cut through Luzon, killing one person.

 

The largest numbers of casualties have been caused by landslides or floods caused by typhoons. In 1991, more than 5,000 people died in the central island of Leyte in floods triggered by Typhoon Thelma. In 2004, a series of typhoons and tropical storms left about 1,800 people dead or missing, including 480 who were killed when mudslides struck three towns in eastern Quezon province in the Luzon region.

 

Around 20 typhoon and tropical storms strike the Philippines each year. The Philippine typhoon season generally coincides with the annual wet season from June to November, although there are occasional typhoons in December.

 

NDCC released report on compound effects of last three major typhoons, Xangsane (Milenyo) in September, Cimaron (Paeng) in October and Durian (Reming) in December. Total casualties are at 808 dead, 2,652 injured and 820 missing. Total displaced estimated at 350,329. (UNICEF, Dec-08)