Impact of Typhoons Ketsana and Parma in the Philippines

HIGHLIGHTS
• Typhoon Parma (locally named Pepeng) made landfall on 3 October 2009 and affected more than 338,302 people (70,941 families), with 16 confirmed deaths and two people missing. To date, 85,863 people (19,184 families) are located in 460 evacuation centres, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
• Typhoon Parma had a devastating impact on the agriculture sector in Isabela Province, which raises food security concerns, as it is the main producer of corn and second producer of rice in the country, according to the Department of Agriculture.
• Further access to areas affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana (locally named Ondoy) on 26 September, and verification of data, resulted in higher recorded numbers of flood-affected. To date, the floods affected 3,929,030 people (805,740 families), with 295 confirmed deaths and 39 people missing. A total of 335,740 people are sheltered in 559 evacuation shelters.
• Approximately 16,094 houses were destroyed by the Tropical Storm Ketsana and 22,849 houses partially damaged, according to NDCC.
• Food, water, sanitation and hygiene relief remain the highest priorities. Government, IASC and UNDAC assessments of Typhoon Parma and Tropical Storm Ketsana are ongoing. Organisations are requested to coordinate assessments through the NDCC.
• The UN, in consultation with humanitarian partners and donors, has developed a Flash Appeal for $74 million to address needs in 13 sectors: Food, WASH, CCCM, Shelter and Non-Food Items, Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, Early Recovery, Agriculture, Logistics and Emergency Telecommunications, Livelihoods and Coordination. The appeal was launched in Geneva on 6 October, to be followed by a local launch in Manila on 7 October.
• In an all member states meeting at UN HQ New York, ERC Holmes briefed on Asia Pacific disasters including the typhoons Ketsana and Parma in the Philippines. The Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN complemented the ERC’s address and thanked member states for their support in the disaster response.

View full  situation report here