 |
Philippines |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Tropical Storm, Complex Emergency
OFDA Response:
Health, emergency relief supplies, water, sanitation, and hygiene
OFDA Preparedness:
Climate forecasting, conflict preparedness, hydrometeorological risk reduction, volcano monitoring, disaster preparedness, response and management
Latest OFDA Report:
Philippines Tropical Storms Fact Sheet #10 (91kb PDF)
Asia and Pacific Storms, Floods, and Tsunami Fact Sheet #5 (79KB PDF)
|
 |
|
|
Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Tropical Storm, 10-06-2009
On September 26, Tropical Storm Ketsana, known locally as Ondoy, made landfall in the northern Philippines with wind speeds of approximately 53 miles per hour, bringing sustained heavy rains throughout Luzon island. In two days, the island received the equivalent of a typical monsoon month’s rainfall, causing the most extensive flooding the capital had experienced in more than 40 years. According to the Philippines National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), floods and landslides resulting from Ketsana had killed 420 people and affected 4,348,884 individuals as of October 20, including 189,098 evacuees residing in shelters or with host families. In addition, NDCC estimated that flood waters had destroyed or damaged 102,684 houses, as well as roads, bridges, schools, and agricultural land. On September 27, the Philippine Secretary of National Defense and chairman of NDCC declared a state of national calamity in Manila and 27 provinces in Luzon.
On October 6, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney reissued a disaster declaration
for FY 2010 due to the continued need for U.S. Government (USG) assistance for Tropical Storm Ketsana. In response, USAID/OFDA allocated $3.8 million in humanitarian assistance to mitigate the effects of Philippines tropical storms in FY 2010. The U.S. Department of Defense also provided humanitarian assistance to storm-affected individuals, including equipment, transport, and logistics in support of relief efforts. USAID/OFDA deployed a regional advisor, field officer, and water, sanitation, and hygiene advisor to the Philippines to assess flood impacts and facilitate USG assistance, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and USAID/Philippines.
Additional Disaster Declarations
Tropical Storms, 09-28-09
On September 26, Tropical Storm Ketsana, known locally as Ondoy, made landfall in the northern Philippines with wind speeds of approximately 53 miles per hour, bringing sustained heavy rains throughout Luzon Island. In two days, the island received the equivalent of a typical monsoon month’s rainfall, causing the most extensive flooding the capital had experienced in more than 40 years. According to the Philippines NDCC, floods had killed 140 people and affected 453,033 individuals as of September 28, including 152,411 evacuees residing in shelters or with host families. In addition, NDCC initially estimated that flood waters had destroyed or damaged 558 houses, as well as roads, bridges, schools, and agricultural land. On September 27, the Philippine Secretary of National Defense and chairman of NDCC declared a state of national calamity in Manila and 27 provinces in Luzon.
On September 28, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of Typhoon Ketsana. In response, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $100,000 through USAID/Philippines to the Philippines National Red Cross for the local purchase and delivery of emergency relief supplies. Funding also supported cleanup efforts focused in the Manila metropolitan area. The U.S. Department of Defense Pacific Command also provided humanitarian assistance to storm-affected individuals, including a helicopter and Zodiac boats to aid rescue efforts. USAID/OFDA deployed a regional advisor and field officer to Manila to assess flood impacts and facilitate USG assistance, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and USAID/Philippines.
Philippines Complex Emergency, 10-31-2008
Since August 10, 2008, continued fighting between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mindanao has resulted in large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Government of Philippines National Disaster Coordinating Council reported that 375,864 people have fled their homes, of whom 97,037 individuals are sheltered in 169 evacuation centers and 278,827 others are staying with friends or relatives. During an assessment conducted in central Mindanao in late September, the USAID/OFDA regional advisor and USAID/Philippines staff identified water and sanitation requirements in the evacuation centers as emerging critical needs.
On October 31, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney reissued a disaster declaration due to the complex emergency in Mindanao. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $250,000 through USAID/Philippines to Save the Children/U.S. for health and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities. USAID/OFDA staff in Washington, D.C., and Bangkok, Thailand, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and USAID/Philippines, will continue to monitor the situation.
Typhoon, 06-23-2008
On June 20, 2008, Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) passed over the Philippines, with heavy rains and sustained winds of up to 160 km per hour (kph) and gusts as high as 175 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration. The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that the storm affected more than 470,000 people across 20 provinces, including 320,000 people in the most affected provinces of Iliolo and Capiz in the Western Visayas Region. On June 24, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported that Typhoon Frank killed 177 people and injured 70 others, while 435 people remained missing. NDCC noted that the storm destroyed or damaged more than 150,000 homes, flooded nearly 225,000 hectares of farmland, and damaged 16.8 metric tons of agricultural produce. High winds and heavy surf from Typhoon Frank also capsized a ferry boat with 750 people on board, the majority of whom perished.
On June 23, U.S. Chargé d’Affairs Thomas B. Gibbons declared a disaster as a result of Typhoon Frank. In response, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $100,000 through USAID/Philippines to the Philippine National Red Cross for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including blankets, mosquito nets, and water containers, to families affected by the storm.
Typhoon, 12-04-2006
On November 30 and December 1, Typhoon Durian (also known as Typhoon Reming) struck the southern Luzon region of the Philippines with sustained winds of approximately 120 miles per hour (mph) and gusts of up to 140 mph. Classified as a super typhoon upon making landfall, the storm affected nearly 1.1 million people in 12 provinces. Torrential rains and mudslides, particularly in the area of the Mount Mayon volcano, killed nearly 425 people, injured 507 others, and left 599 people missing. According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, approximately 20,200 people sought refuge in 72 different evacuation centers. The NDCC also reported that the typhoon damaged 108,945 houses and destroyed 39,955 houses.
On December 4, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney declared a disaster due to the effects of Typhoon Durian. In response, OFDA provided $250,000 through USAID/Philippines for emergency grants to the Philippine National Red Cross Society and other humanitarian organizations working in the affected area. USAID also airlifted relief commodities for approximately 7,000 families in the Philippines.
Typhoon, 09-29-2006
 |
Relief workers prepare for a distribution of emergency relief supplies in the Philippines.
|
From September 27 to September 28, Typhoon Xangsane (also known as Typhoon Milenyo) crossed over the Eastern Visayas and Central Luzon islands, including Manila, in central Philippines. Typhoon Xangsane brought heavy rains and sustained winds of up to 130 km/h and gusts of up to 160 km/h. USAID/Philippines reported that the typhoon killed at least 18 people, and dozens of residents were missing. The Philippines Office of Civil Defense reported that Typhoon Xangsane displaced approximately 5,500 people. According to USAID/Philippines, there were reports of flash floods and landslides, and more than 30,000 families were estimated to be directly affected. Rescue efforts were hampered due to blocked roads, power shortages, and lack of adequate communications in the central Philippines.
On September 29, the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney issued a disaster declaration due to the magnitude of the damage caused by Typhoon Xangsane in the central Philippines. In response, OFDA provided $100,000 to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) for essential relief supplies such as blankets, mosquito nets, plastic mats, water containers, and soap to support at least 2,100 families or 11,000 people affected by the floods and landslides.
Landslides, 02-17-2006
Unseasonably heavy rainfall in early February 2006 triggered two massive landslides on February 17 in the eastern Philippines village of Guinsaugon in Saint Bernard Municipality, Southern Leyte Province. Initial reports indicated that the landslides affected all 1,500 residents of Guinsaugon. According to the Philippines Geosciences Bureau, the landslide area was more than 4 meters deep and covered approximately 3 square kilometers, making the area unstable and difficult to traverse.
On February 17, 2006, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Paul W. Jones declared a disaster due to the impact of the landslides. In response, USAID provided $100,000 to the Philippines National Red Cross for emergency relief activities. Additionally, USAID airlifted emergency relief commodities, valued at nearly $150,000, including transport.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses in the Philippines, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
Back to Top ^ |
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
