Philippines • Typhoon Megi Situation Report No

Philippines • Typhoon Megi Situation Report No. 4 25 October 2010

This report was issued by OCHA New York based on inputs from OCHA Philippines. It covers the period from 22- 25 October 2010. This is the final Situation Report for Typhoon Megi.

For a full NDRRMC report on the Government response, please visit www.ndcc.gov.ph

I. HIGHLIGHTS • Almost two million people were affected by Typhoon Megi (locally named Juan) in six Regions of Luzon, according to the NDRRMC. The most affected Provinces are Isabela in Region II and Pangasinan in Region I. • Emergency Shelter was the primary need identified by the Government and confirmed by assessment teams. • A total of 30,206 houses were destroyed and 115,584 houses partially damaged by Typhoon Megi, according to NDRRMC. • The agriculture sector in Isabela Province, which had already been seriously affected by Typhoon Parma in 2009 and on-going La Niña drought, was further devastated by Typhoon Megi. Isabela was the main producer of corn and second producer of rice in the country, according to the Department of Agriculture. • There has been no official request for international assistance. This is the final Situation Report.

II. Situation Overview

Typhoon Megi (locally named Juan) made landfall as a Category 5 Typhoon in the mountain range of Sierra Madre, Isabella Province, Cagayan Region (Region II) at 11:25 a.m. Manila time on 18 October 2010. Gale force winds reaching up to 260 km per hour and heavy rains were experienced throughout Ilocos (Region I), Region II, Central Luzon (Region III) and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

According to the latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Update (No. 22), as of 25 October 422,745 families (1,980,014 people) in 3,330 Barangays were affected by Typhoon Megi. Casualties stand at 31 deaths and 42 injuries, with four people reported missing. Many evacuees and typhoon-affected people residing in Evacuation Centers have returned to their places of origin to rebuild their lives. As of 25 October, only 1,628 families (6,719 people) remained in Evacuation Centers (down from 23,127 people in 170 Evacuation Centers reported in the last Situation Report on 21 October). The majority of roads are now accessible and power is being restored. The Government has not requested international assistance.

Emergency shelter needed: The powerful typhoon winds of up to 260 kilometres per hour caused significant damage to housing, resulting in an immediate need for emergency shelter. A total of 30,206 houses were destroyed and 115,584 houses partially damaged by Typhoon Megi, according to NDRRMC. Shelter was worst affected in Isabela Province in Region II, which experienced the strongest wind gusts from Typhoon Megi (see the Situation Map on damaged houses below).

Access difficulties: Within Isabela Province, the three coastal towns fronting the Pacific Ocean, Maconacon, Palanan and Divilacan, bore the brunt of Typhoon Megi as it made landfall in the Philippines. The three towns are virtually inaccessible due to the Sierra Madre mountain range, but assessment teams and Government food relief have now reached these areas by air.

Typhoon impact to the Fourth Quarter Production of Rice and Corn: Typhoon Megi’s impact on commercial rice production for the Philippines is estimated at 15.34 per cent of the 1,860,395 hectares planned for

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. harvest throughout the country from October to December 2010. The damage to the corn harvest is estimated at 2.4 per cent of the 645,695 hectares harvestable in the fourth quarter.

Tropical Storm Chaba: Tropical Storm Chaba (locally named Katring) is located 770 kilometres to the East of Northern Luzon and is moving in a West North-Westerly direction toward Japan at 20 kilometres per hour. It is not forecast to cause weather disturbance or make landfall in the Philippines, according to PAGASA.

III. Humanitarian Response

Needs Assessments and Priorities Needs assessments feedback indicates that the priority is for emergency shelter assistance (particularly shelter repair kits). Feedback from various needs assessments is incorporated into the Cluster Updates below.

Agriculture Agriculture Needs: According to the initial damage report, the consolidated impact of Typhoon Megi in Regions I, II, III and CAR includes losses to agriculture amounting to PhP 8.22 billion (US$ 190 million). Damage to rice crops constituted the greatest loss, with approximately 285,447 hectares of rice lands affected. This resulted in losses of 314,577 MT of palay (un-milled rice) worth PhP 5.35 billion from 17 provinces. Approximately 15,474 hectares of corn were affected, resulting in losses of 25,812 MT of corn worth PhP 348.42 million. Of the area affected, 105 hectares have been assessed as unrecoverable while 15,369 hectares could be recovered. An estimated 4,107 hectares of High Value Commercial Crops were affected, resulting in losses of some 17,583 MT of vegetables and fruits. Lost livestock and poultry account for a loss of PhP 4.75 million. The fisheries sector lost PhP 49.94 million, with the loss of products from 208 hectares of fishponds and 98 fish cages and five payaos (fishing rafts) damaged in Cagayan and Isabela Provinces.

Response: The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing a rehabilitation plan to support typhoon-affected farmers, supported by field assessments and damage verification by DA and Local Government Units (LGU). The plan provides certified palay seeds at one bag per hectare to severely affected rice farmers. For farms not severely damaged, the plan will subsidise half of the cost of one bag of certified seeds. FAO remains on stand-by to assist in the conduct of post disaster needs assessment, jointly with DA and other government counterparts.

Gaps: Lack of information on actual damage and affected farmers and fishers remains a challenge in planning appropriate response

Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and NFI Needs: According to NDRRMC, there are now only 1,628 families (or 6,719 individuals) sheltered in 32 Evacuation Centers in Regions I and II. This figure reflects a significant decrease in the number of displaced families from the 23,788 persons reported in Situation Report No.3 (21 October). The decrease in the number of displaced is consistent with reports by local officials that families who evacuated either prior to (pre-emptive evacuation) or following the typhoon are returning to their homes. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) monitoring and reports from other Clusters and humanitarian agencies operating in the affected areas indicate that no major concerns were reported in these Evacuation Centers. The CCCM/NFI Cluster, through DSWD, will validate the situation within the Evacuation Centers to determine humanitarian needs of the displaced families. The CCCM/NFI Cluster is also gathering information on the situation of displaced people staying with host families (relatives and neighbours), to enable the Cluster to advise on the needs of the displaced staying outside of the Evacuation Centers.

Response: On 22 October, a meeting of the CCCM/NFI Cluster was convened by DSWD. The Cluster will collect more detailed information on the Evacuation Centers, including the cause of continued displacement

and the displaced families’ projected length of stay. The CCCM/NFI Cluster participated in the joint NDRRMC and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) assessment in the worst affected areas of Isabela Province, where reports of people leaving the Evacuation Centers were validated. The movement out of the Evacuation Centers has highlighted the urgent need for emergency shelter assistance and essential non-food items. Information gathered by the DSWD regional offices will inform the cluster as to whether additional support is required to provide for the needs of the displaced and other affected families. In the meantime, the HCT informed the Cluster of available in-country stocks that could support the Government’s response.

Food Security Needs: DSWD-led food relief operations are ongoing in typhoon-affected areas. Distributions, which address immediate food needs, include family packs of rice, sardines, noodles and supplementary rations of high energy biscuits (HEBs) for the hardest hit municipalities. The joint Government/HCT assessment found that while some farmers were able to harvest crops (rice and corn) prior to the typhoon, warehouses and milling infrastructure were damaged. Household interviews revealed a total loss of income among families with totally destroyed houses. Families were dependent on food from family packs provided by the Government, as well as on support from neighbours. Markets were functioning and the typhoon has not had a significant impact on supplies, although prices have increased (rice went from PhP 28 to PhP 32 in two days). Negative coping strategies included (a) reduction in the number of meals per day (two from three); (b) borrowing food/money from neighbours; and (c) temporary suspension of regular income earning activities to focus on the immediate need of rehabilitating shelter and key infrastructure. Inland municipalities of Isabela that were assessed reported that food was among the most urgent needs, along with shelter / rehabilitation, water and livelihoods. Urgent early recovery support is required when short-term food relief is completed.

Response: Resources to address food needs will be required in response to potential short and long-term food insecurity caused by the typhoon. Through LGUs, DSWD provides 3-5Isabela kg Provincerice and Food two Distribution cans of Centre fish, along with blankets. One thousand boxes of WFP high energy biscuits (HEB)for Typhoon were Megidispatched to the three Photo credit: WFP Philippines, 24 October most affected coastal areas of Isabela on 24 October (not yet distributed by LGUs due to Barangay Elections on 25 October). An estimated 2,000 MT of rice dispatched by WFP for DSWD-approved Food for Work activities in August to September remains undistributed in these affected areas. At least five per cent of this quantity was diverted and distributed for typhoon relief. A total of 115 MT of HEBs, sufficient to assist 80,000 people for two weeks, will arrive in country by the end of the week to complement Government relief operations capacity. The Food Cluster has not been officially activated by the Government.

Gaps: Communication and access to remote areas remain a challenge to key information gathering. Food will be among the immediate priority needs, along with shelter and water.

Education Needs: Rapid assessment teams from UNICEF and Save the Children further validated the extent of damage on schools, particularly in Districts 1 and 2 of Isabela Province. Heaviest hit were the schools in the coastal municipalities of Maconacon, Palanan and Divilacan. Meanwhile, Typhoon Megi also left many schools roofless, especially in the inland municipalities of Tumuaini, Santo Tomas, Delfino Albano, and Ilagan. In Delfino Albano, 21 elementary and primary schools reported damages that affected an estimated 3,750 elementary students and 832 day care pupils and required a make-shift classroom to continue learning. In Tumuaini, ten out of 34 Day Care Centres were reported damaged. Eighteen out of 33 Elementary Schools, with 8,830 enrolled students, were reported damaged. Five out of the eight High Schools, with a total of 4,335 enrolled students, were reported damaged. Most of the damages were to roofing, ceilings and windows. Total estimated cost of school damages was PhP 13.87 million (i.e. significantly higher than the official Government figure of PhP 4.2 million). The literacy rate for the municipality is 86%. Regular classes were projected to start in two weeks. Pupils reported that they lost most of their school supplies. Teaching and other learning materials were lost or damaged. The water and sanitation systems were not functional and needed rehabilitation.

Response: In response to the request of Provincial Government of Isabela and needs identified made by DILG Secretary and Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary, UNICEF dispatched eighteen sets of school tents for the coastal municipalities of Maconacon, Palanan, and Divilacan. Provisions for school supplies, as well as teaching and other learning materials, were readied in time for class resumption. Local NGOs are providing tarpaulins as temporary roofing for a number of affected schools.

Health Needs: Monitoring the health of the affected population, especially those living in temporary shelters, remains a prime concern. Until water infrastructure from source to delivery points is restored properly, health officials maintain vigilance against waterborne diseases. At present, local health managers are managing the health needs in coordination with Department of Health (DOH).

Response: DOH is monitoring the health conditions of individuals, especially those in the hard hit provinces and municipalities where prolonged stays in Evacuation Centers are expected. The same attention is given to localities where basic sanitation and hygiene may be compromised. DOH is preparing to roll out Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies and Disasters (SPEED) when criteria for its activation are met. WHO is on standby to assist DOH when necessary.

Gaps: The most important need in the following days is to implement continued monitoring for potential secondary health effects of prolonged population displacement. In areas where disrupted public utility services can become pathways of public health threats, vigilance remains key.

Nutrition Response: A Nutrition assessment conducted in Isabela Province on 20-22 October indicated that there were no donations or distributions of artificial milk products, infant formula, baby bottles or teats. Approximately ten per cent of infants in the affected area are formula dependent and perceived as belonging to the higher wealth brackets. There were no indentified problems in feeding children under two years of age since the typhoon. There is good understanding among health personnel of the Milk Code, Infant and Young Child Feeding and Nutrition in Emergencies. There has been no distribution of breast milk substitutes. Nutritional status and breastfeeding practices are better than for the country as a whole.

Gaps: Multiple Micronutrient Powders, Iron-folic acid tablets and tarpaulin, posters and fans were in stock. However, the Breastfeeding Tents, Feeding Kits and Baby Kits are not available. There is a need to continually assess the nutritional status of boys and girls in the areas affected as an increase in malnutrition rates may be seen in two to three weeks. Assessment of current stocks of ready-to-use Therapeutic Foods, F100, F75, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tapes, Vitamin A capsules is underway.

Child Protection Needs: A rapid assessment on child protection issues was conducted last week in Cagayan Province. There were no reported cases of separated children and sexual abuse in mainland municipalities. The Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) will focus on the difficult to access Divilacan, Palanan and Maconacon towns in Isabela Province and mobilise Child Protection teams to conduct rapid assessments, undertake rapid registration and family tracing of separated children, and organise communities to establish child-friendly spaces and child protection networks. Social welfare offices are functional, but the main concern is for provisions and facilitation of relief aid. Requests were submitted to UNICEF through the DSWD Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) for assistance for children in barangays not listed on the NDRRMC report, including for Tondo in Manila. Tents used as temporary learning centres could also double up as child friendly spaces. Otherwise additional tents will have to be ordered.

Response: A list of CPWG volunteers was generated. Plans for deployment in emergency affected areas will be decided at the CPWG meeting on 26 October. Formal FTR team at CWC with six social workers is on stand-by to lead the registration and case work for separated and unaccompanied children. Rapid registration teams of more than 600 volunteers for unaccompanied and separated children are on stand-by for deployment. Psychosocial Support volunteers of more than 1,000 for establishing child friendly spaces are also on stand-by. Three hundred child friendly spaces kits are available. Information, Education, Communication (IEC) materials are available on child abuse, psychosocial support and avoiding separation.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Needs: WASH members from UNICEF, OXFAM, IFRC and ACF were in Isabela Province to follow up on regular programs affected by the typhoon. There is a lack of data on the water supply situation to analyse what is available, damaged, or requires rehabilitation. The strong winds affected power supply to the water systems. The assessment of Ilagan, the capital of Isabela, indicated long queues for drinking water. Water for other means, including cooking and bathing, is from unsafe/unprotected hand dug wells and the hand pumps close to their houses. The water supply at the three coastal towns which are the most affected by the typhoons is poor, the water springs and wells are not functioning, contaminated, or destroyed completely. The sanitation status of Ilagan was poor before the disaster, the access was very low according to the figures by The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.

the municipality. There is a need for hygiene promotion and technical guidance on material, and methodology for the community.

Response: Immediate support from the WASH Cluster includes hygiene, water kits, purification tablets for the 5000 families in the three coastal towns. Five generators of 100 KVA for Ilagan to the deep wells for the water system and the hospital. Medium to long term support includes the rehabilitation / construction of the hand dug wells, and equip with hand pumps, WASH for schools at the coastal areas and at the 102 affected schools as per the list submitted by the regional educational department. Hygiene promotion and social mobilization is required for affected areas, at the locations targeted for water, sanitation rehabilitation.

Logistics Response: WFP participated in the joint Government / HCT assessment on 23-24 October on behalf of the Logistics Cluster. The Logistics Cluster has not been formally activated. US air assets concluded their mission in support of the NDRRMC’s initial disaster response in northern Luzon on 23 October. One aircraft (C-130) from the Philippines Air Force was uplifting relief goods to Isabela province up to 24 October. A Philippines Coast Guard vessel was loaded with relief cargo in Manila port and expected to arrive at cut-off areas of Isabela coastal region within the next three days. The joint assessment Bridges and houses in Isabela Province affected by Typhoon indicated that up to 30 per cent of DSWD warehouse Megi. Photo credit: WFP Philippines, Logistics, 24 October stocks in Isabela Province were damaged by the wind and rain. All primary and secondary roads in Isabela and Cagayan provinces are accessible for road transport, with the exception of Barangays in coastal municipalities, which are not accessible from inland. To date, eight road sections are closed to traffic in CAR region due to landslides and floods (NDRRMC, 25 October) and being cleared. WFP received an additional 54.6 MT of High Energy Biscuits in Manila to be distributed with DSWD.

Gaps: Typhoon Megi was comparatively stronger in terms of wind strength than 2009 Typhoons Parma and Ketsana, however, it brought significantly less rain and the overall impact on infrastructure appears less severe. Electrical power supply might not be repaired in most remote locations for 30 days. The typhoon season is not over and the Logistics Cluster encourages actors to maintain and replenish emergency stocks, to ensure readiness to respond to possible new natural disasters. At this stage, no further operational requirements were identified for the Logistics Cluster in response of the current emergency.

IV. Coordination

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is the overall coordinator of the disaster response until the recovery phase is underway towards rehabilitation. For further information refer to www.ndcc.gov.ph

Donor Briefing: OCHA will facilitate the final Donor Briefing on 26 October in Manila, to brief Donor and Humanitarian Country Team on the situation, with updates from Clusters and discussion on next steps.

Up-coming Coordination Meetings: For up-coming coordination meetings, please refer to the website: http://ph.one.un.org/response/calendar.php

V. Contact

OCHA Philippines OCHA New York Ms. Cate Steins, Head of Office Mr. Alf Ivar Blikberg, Humanitarian Affairs Officer [email protected], [email protected] Office: +63 2 901 0265 - Cell: +63 917 513 9924 Office: +1 917 367 0215 - Cell: +1 917 388 5543

OCHA Geneva Mr. Anvar Munavvarov, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, [email protected] Office: +41 22 917 1489 - Cell: + +41 79 441 29 93