Philippines: ACT workers preparing for fourth storm
NEWS STORY: Sandra Cox UPDATED: October 30, 2009
PHOTO: John Javellana / Reuters
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — ACT International members in the Philippines are bracing for a fourth storm in just over a month as Typhoon Mirinae bears down on already devastated northern regions. Relief workers, stretched from dealing with the aftermath of typhoons Ketsana, Parma and the tail end of Lupit, are now preparing for 150km/hr winds and gusts up to 185km/hr to hit major rice-producing provinces north of Manila.
ACT yesterday issued a US$686,400 full appeal for relief and rehabilitation from the relentless storms and flooding. Ketsana, which made landfall on September 26, caused the worst flooding in and around Manila in 40 years. The Philippines Government reported that it killed 464 people and left 37 missing. By the time Typhoon Parma had crossed northern Philippines just under a fortnight later, the number of dead had risen to just over 900 with 90 people missing. The devastation ruined rice and vegetable crops, resulting in pledges by the Government to import rice for two months.
ACT’s Minnie-Anne Calub said the unrelenting number of typhoons has been stressful for staff and volunteers within her organisation, National Council of Churches in the Philippines. “Four weeks after a typhoon we are usually heading toward the rehabilitation phase. This is the first time we have had a series of typhoons. We thought we would be terminating the relief phase after two or three weeks but because of the continuous typhoons, rains and floods, the water won’t subside and people can’t go home.”
It is the first time NCCP has had to retain the services of volunteers for more than a month. Volunteers are usually required for up to three weeks. However, morale was good. “They are not tired but they are worried about the situation for the people. I have seen on the faces of our volunteers that as long as we are still healthy enough to work and there is help coming, then we will move forward,” Minnie-Anne Calub says.
ACT Appeal
Relief workers and government officials are worried about an increase in cases and outbreaks of Leptospirosis and dengue. Parts of Manila remain flooded. Water-borne diseases are spreading in stagnant waters. Health officials say Leptospirosis has killed 167 people throughout the Philippines.
Three ACT members have requested appeal funds which will assist approximately 30,000 families of up to seven members. Most funds will be used to purchase food, water, health care, school items and other provisions. ACT members and partners have also formed committees and engaged volunteers to scale up and implement the projects. Co-ordination with other agencies, local government, and UN has also taken place. ACT members have been carrying out further assessments to plan longer term rehabilitation needs.
Villages remain cut off
On a recent monitoring trip to villages in Luzon, Minnie-Anne Calub said some villages in the mountainous Cordillera region were still cut off by multiple landslides. At a Kibungan, north of Baguio City, surviving villagers were struggling to clear a landslide which sent mud flowing through the village, sweeping everything downstream. “Yesterday we sent our truck back to Baguio City to bring additional goods such as farm tools for people to clear landslides. We sent shovels, axes and other cutting implements. We hope will be able to send more next week. They are also asking for rehabilitation assistance, especially the distribution of rice seeds in Ilocos region.”
In the town of Abatan, ACT distributed school kits of writing pads, pencils and crayons for the children to draw what they had seen during the emergency as a means of helping them cope with the trauma. “We also went to two places where whole communities was washed away. One was a mining community of 100 plus families.” Families have made their temporary home in local school buildings. Although the Anglican bishop had talked to local government officials to seek possible sites for the families to move to, no land was available.
Minnie-Anne Calub says despite the disheartening situation of so many people, it is her duty to keep working for them. “I am depressed in the sense that I wonder when people will go back to normal life. Even ordinary people who have not experienced the trauma are wary of what will happen again. We are worried but it is our responsibility, our commitment to move with the people.” She said she was greatly encouraged by gifts of funds from individuals and churches in foreign countries.
