UN: More than 30 M at risk from typhoon

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Ruby could affect more than 30 million people in the Philippines, the United Nations has said.Denis McClean, a spokesperson for the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), said during a press briefing in Geneva on Dec. 5 that the category 5 typhoon has triggered one of the largest peacetime evacuations in Philippine history that “appeared to rival” the evacuation of one million people when Cyclone Phailin threatened India’s coastline last year.

“While around 10 million residents of the Philippines are at risk of flooding, storm surges and strong winds, more than 30 million people could feel the impact,” McClean said.

Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) has stirred unease among many Filipinos following the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in November last year.

McClean said the lessons from Yolanda were being applied as local governments take the lead in disseminating early warnings.

Corinne Momal-Vanian, a spokesperson for the World Food Program (WFP), said the agency was closely monitoring the typhoon’s trajectory and had food stocks available and staff on standby.

The WFP, she said, has a supply of 260 metric tons of high-energy biscuits, almost 4,000 metric tons of rice and over 130 metric tons of ready-to-use supplementary food – enough to provide emergency assistance to 1.8 million people during an initial two-week period.

Christiane Berthiaume of the International Organization for Migration, said a worst-case disaster scenario would see up to 32 million people affected by the storm. She said the IOM had been assisting authorities with evacuation – particularly in areas where those displaced by Yolanda continue to live in tents.

IOM

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Philippines said up to 32 million people could be affected in a worst-case scenario.

IOM has been supporting the government, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), during evacuation across the potentially affected area, notably in regions hit by Typhoon Yolanda, where many communities are still living in tents.

“This is a worrying situation for millions of people,” said Marco Boasso, IOM’s chief of mission in the Philippines. “But we are doing all we can to prepare, getting information and emergency shelter materials to the areas most likely to be affected. We are already present on the ground and our staff will be responding from the moment the storm has passed. We have vast experience here, not just from Haiyan, but going back over 30 years.”

IOM teams in Roxas will cover the areas of Panay, Negros and Palawan; teams in Ormoc will cover Cebu, Bohol and South and Western Leyte; teams in Tacloban are focusing on Eastern Leyte and Western Samar; and teams in Guiuan on Eastern Samar. Coordination efforts are taking place in the capital, Manila.

UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is in full preparedness mode to assist children and their families. Pre-positioned supplies are ready to be deployed from the UNICEF’s global warehouse in Copenhagen and local warehouses in Manila, Leyte and Cotabato. These emergency supplies include water kits, hygiene kits, water purification units, school tents, student and teacher materials, child friendly space tents, medical supplies, nutritional therapeutic food items to combat malnutrition, oral rehydration salts, tarpaulins and generators enough for at least 10,000 families.

“UNICEF is working with national and local government and partners to safeguard children and families, and ensure that they are prepared and supported. We are closely monitoring the situation and teams are in place in Tacloban City ready to respond to this new emergency,” said Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Philippines representative.

“It is unfortunate that some of the communities recovering from last year’s massive disaster are faced again with yet another Super Typhoon. UNICEF will continue to be there by children and communities to assist them through this impending calamity.”

Oxfam aid workers

Aid workers of international humanitarian group Oxfam are on high alert, activating contingency plans and preparing stocks of emergency assistance.“Rapid assessment teams throughout the country are currently on standby, and ready to go to affected areas to determine the scale of response needed,” said Oxfam country director Justin Morgan.Morgan said they are preparing water and hygiene kits and mother-and-newborn kits that include items such as baby blankets and mats, baby clothing items and maternity napkins.He said aid workers are aware of the importance of ensuring the protection of women and girls, who are most vulnerable to the impacts of disasters.He said Oxfam is also committed to working with government and other humanitarian partners to ensure the rights of women are upheld through any emergency response, and that their needs are taken care of. –With Jose Rodel Clapano