BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
Asia and Pacific – Storms, Floods, and Tsunami
Fact Sheet #4, Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 October 20, 2009
Note: The last fact sheet was dated October 14, 2009.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
•
On October 20, the U.N. issued a flash appeal requesting more than $10 million in support of Government of Laos
(GoL), non-governmental organization (NGO), and U.N. operations in Laos following Typhoon Ketsana, with priority
areas in health, shelter, food provision, road clearance, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions.
According to the U.N., the six-month appeal seeks to address the immediate needs of the approximately 178,000
affected individuals. U.N. agencies and partners plan to revise the appeal following the expected late October release
of joint needs assessment results.
•
On October 16, a USAID/OFDA WASH advisor arrived in the Philippines to evaluate WASH conditions at
evacuation centers and in affected areas and monitor progress of U.S. Government (USG)-funded WASH emergency
interventions.
•
A third Pacific typhoon is moving toward northern Luzon island. As of October 20 at 1100 hours Eastern Daylight
Time, the center of Typhoon Lupit (Ramil) was located approximately 644 miles northeast of Manila, according to
the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). According to the JTWC forecast, the typhoon will strengthen
while moving over open water in coming days, before making landfall on northern Luzon on October 22.
•
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GoRP) has ordered the evacuation of thousands of people in
northern coastal and mountain areas and organized the pre-positioning of nearly 100 tons of relief items, food, and
medical supplies in provinces vulnerable to the potential effects of Lupit. The U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also
has pre-positioned medicine, sleeping mats, and purification tablets for approximately 8,000 families in four
locations in Luzon.
NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
Country
Estimated Affected Population
Source
India
384 dead; 647,500
displaced; 2 million
affected
IRCS
1
– October 15, 2009
Laos
15 dead; 9,602 households displaced;
178,000 affected
OCHA
2
– October 20, 2009
Philippines
858 dead; 221,323 displaced; 8,512,360
affected
NDCC
3
– October 20, 2009
Samoa
143 dead; 4,500 affected
OCHA – October 16, 2009
Tonga
9 dead; 470 affected
OCHA – October 16, 2009
Vietnam
163 dead; 3 million affected
U.N. Vietnam Country Team – October
19, 2009
FY 2010 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING TO DATE
USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to India for Floods................................................................................$100,000
USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Laos for Floods ..................................................................................$50,000
USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Philippines for Storms and Floods .............................................$2,859,450
4
DoD
5
Humanitarian Assistance to Philippines for Storms and Floods .................................................................$827,581
USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Samoa for Tsunami ........................................................................$350,000
6
USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Tonga for Tsunami .......................................................................... $50,000
1
Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS)
2
U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
3
GoRP National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)
4
This amount represents the portion of USAID/OFDA’s FY 2010 allocation of $3.8 million that has been awarded to date and funds for a USAID/OFDA
airlift of emergency commodities and administrative costs. The remaining funds will be awarded based on ongoing assessments. This amount does not
include $404,496 in USAID/OFDA FY 2009 funding provided in assistance for Philippines tropical storms.
5
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
6
This amount does not include an additional $750,000 USAID/OFDA allocation for Samoa announced on October 8.
Asia and Pacific – Storms, Floods, and Tsunami – October 20, 2009
USAID/OFDA Humanitarian Assistance to Vietnam for Typhoon ......................................................................$502,875
Total USAID and DoD
Humanitarian Assistance to Asia and Pacific for Storms, Floods and Tsunami .......$4,739,906
CURRENT SITUATION
India
•
An October 15 IRCS report indicated that floods in late September and early October had killed 384 people, displaced
approximately 647,500 others, killed 35,226 heads of cattle, breached 404 irrigation tanks, and damaged 716,830
houses, primarily in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states in southern India.
•
On October 13, Sphere India—a consortium of government and humanitarian agencies working in-country—reported
that floodwaters are receding. However, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka state governments foresee increased
flooding if the region experiences heavy October to December post-monsoon rains.
•
IRCS had distributed 20,000 mosquito nets, 1,000 tents, 2,500 stoves, and 5,000 family packs containing tarpaulins,
bed sheets blankets, kitchen sets and other items to affected individuals in Andhra Pradesh State as of October 16.
IRCS also distributed 2,000 woolen blankets and kitchen sets to families residing in relief camps in Karnataka State,
as well as 1,000 family pack items to affected individuals in Bihar State.
Laos
•
On October 16, UNICEF reported that floodwaters had completely submerged 81 villages in the southern Attapeu
Province. According to UNICEF, 12 health centers and many schools in Laos’ five typhoon-affected provinces also
remain in need of latrine rehabilitation and water supply restoration.
•
GoL Ministry of Health teams have been providing preventative and curative care to people in evacuation centers and
affected villages.
•
UNICEF plans to procure 2,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets for distribution to affected families to prevent
disease spread.
Philippines
•
The GoRP Department of Agriculture estimates that Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma destroyed
approximately 925,000 tons of rice, corn, and high-value crops.
•
Due to severe flooding from Typhoon Parma and in accordance with a request from the GoRP, the U.N. Food Cluster
plans to include regions I, II, V, and Cordillera Administrative Region, north and eastern Luzon, in the first rice
distribution, as well as the originally planned regions III and IV-A. A total of 4,800 tons of locally purchased rice is
available for further GoRP distribution.
•
The GoRP National Epidemiology Center (NEC) had confirmed an outbreak of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) in
one barangay, the Philippines’ smallest administrative unit, in Marilao, Bulacan Province, and another outbreak in
an evacuation center in San Pedro, Laguna Province, as of October 15. GoRP Department of Health (DoH)
hospitals have reported 97 AWD cases and two deaths. As of October 15, NEC had confirmed an outbreak of
leptospirosis—a rare, contagious bacterial infection—in three barangays in Marikina city, and DoH hospitals have
reported 813 cases and 16 deaths overall.
•
The Marilao local government unit is rationing water and overseeing water treatment in response to the AWD
outbreak. GoRP health officials have established an infirmary to treat cases in the San Pedro evacuation center.
•
The U.N. World Health Organization (WHO) plans to donate diarrheal disease treatment kits sufficient for 10,000
cases to DoH and NGOs providing emergency health services in affected areas. WHO also continues to provide
technical guidance to DoH and the U.N. Health Cluster through case management guidelines for leptospirosis and
AWD. Médecins Sans Frontières has sent a medical team to Marilao.
Samoa
•
A U.N. Inter-Agency Standing Committee presented an Early Recovery Framework to the Government of Samoa on
October 15. The framework includes an analysis of the relative costs and benefits of resettling all, some, or none of
the affected population in areas where the September 29 Pacific tsunami struck.
•
The Samoa Red Cross Society (SRCS) had distributed 1,147 tarpaulins and 46 tents as of October 10. The onset of
the November to April rainy season will likely heighten the need for temporary shelters before relief organizations
begin constructing semi-permanent or permanent housing, according to OCHA.
•
On October 16, OCHA reported that WASH interventions remain a priority. To address WASH needs, the Samoa
Water Authority has constructed pit latrines to reduce the number of people using portable toilets. The authority is
coordinating a water trucking operation, with five trucks delivering 50,000 to 60,000 liters of water per day to affected
populations as of October 16, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) had
ordered 54 water tanks to provide communal drinking water in affected areas.
Asia and Pacific – Storms, Floods, and Tsunami – October 20, 2009
Tonga
•
According to OCHA, the Government of Tonga (GoT) and humanitarian partners have met most of Tonga’s
emergency needs following the tsunami. The GoT estimates the cost of long-term rehabilitation at approximately $7.7
million.
•
The water supply in affected areas is improving following the arrival of a Red Cross desalination unit and an engineer
to assist with filling tanks with drinking water, OCHA reported. The New Zealand Defense Force is assisting with
transporting water to village tanks.
•
On October 15 and 16, a 14-person New Zealand team filled and covered 25 septic tanks where effluent was exposed
in Hihifo city, west Niuatoputapu island. Local authorities have sprayed the Hihifo area to prevent disease.
Vietnam
•
On October 16, the Government of Vietnam (GoV) reported that Tropical Storm Parma damaged 80 houses on the
northern Vietnamese island of Bach Long Vi, sunk 64 fishing boats, and injured one person when it made landfall on
October 14. Quang Ninh Province reported the loss of 300 hectares of rice field due to the effects of Parma.
•
According to UNICEF, as of October 16, central Vietnam had experienced a ten-fold increase in the number of
hospitalized patients in with flu, diarrhea, and eye infections. Lack of safe drinking water, poor nutrition, damaged
sanitation facilities, and contamination from animal carcasses in water sources are contributing to increased disease
incidence.
•
The GoV has announced plans to release approximately $12.3 million and 7,000 tons of rice to assist people affected
by Typhoon Ketsana and Tropical Storm Parma.
USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
India
•
On October 7, U.S. Ambassador Timothy G. Roemer issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of floods
following a week of heavy rains that began September 29. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through
USAID/India to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and CARE to meet the immediate needs of affected
populations.
Laos
•
On October 1, U.S. Ambassador Ravic R. Huso issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of floods caused by
Typhoon Ketsana. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane to the Lao
Red Cross Society (LRCS) to help meet immediate emergency needs of flood-affected populations.
•
A USAID/OFDA regional advisor, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy and humanitarian agencies in Laos,
continues to assess the need for possible additional assistance.
Philippines
•
On September 28, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of Tropical
Storm Ketsana. In response, USAID/OFDA provided an immediate $100,000 through USAID/Philippines to the
Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC) for the local purchase and delivery of emergency relief supplies. Funding
also supported cleanup efforts focused in the Manila metropolitan area.
•
On October 8, USAID/OFDA increased its allocation to $3.8 million for emergency grants to humanitarian
organizations. To date in FY 2010, USAID/OFDA has provided or planned provision of nearly $2.86 million to
assist individuals affected by tropical storms in the Philippines. The assistance includes the procurement, transport,
and distribution of emergency relief commodities, funding for WASH programs, and non-grant funding for airlifts of
relief items and administrative costs. USAID/OFDA will program the remaining allocation of more than $1.3 million
based on ongoing assessments.
7
•
On October 2 and 13, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and GoRP authorities, two USAID/OFDA
charter flights delivered emergency relief items, including 340 rolls of plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, 50,060
bars of soap, 23,424 hygiene kits, and 23,734 10-liter collapsible water containers. PNRC received the commodities
from the October 2 flight for delivery to 20,000 flood-affected individuals, and the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) received the October 13 items for issuance to more than 20,000 families.
•
A USAID/OFDA regional advisor deployed to the Philippines from September 29 to October 14 to assess flood
impacts and facilitate USG assistance, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and USAID/Philippines. A
USAID/OFDA field officer and WASH advisor remain in-country and will monitor the potential impact of Typhoon
Lupit, which is on track to make landfall on northern Luzon on October 22 local time.
7
USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of October 20, 2009.
Asia and Pacific – Storms, Floods, and Tsunami – October 20, 2009
•
In the early stages of the disaster response, DoD Pacific Command provided equipment, transport, and logistics
support, including 10 helicopters and 6 Zodiac boats for search and rescue efforts, to aid storm-affected individuals.
•
From October 2 to 13, DoD assistance included a delivery flight of emergency relief supplies to Batanes Province,
northern Philippines, and transport of food and relief supplies to affected areas by road and helicopter. DoD medical
teams screened 8,850 medical patients and 357 dental patients; DoD flights transported 262 passengers and moved
114,880 pounds of cargo; and DoD engineers conducted 12 assessments, removed 1,385 cubic meters of debris, and
cleared 2,650 meters of road.
Samoa
•
On October 1, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Arnold H. Campbell issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the
September 29 Pacific tsunami. In response, USAID/OFDA contributed $100,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Apia
to SRCS for the purchase and distribution of relief commodities.
•
In accordance with a request from the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., on October 5, USAID/OFDA allocated an additional
$250,000 to support tsunami relief and recovery efforts. With implementation through Samaritan’s Purse, the
assistance has provided hand tools, hygiene kits, plastic sheeting, and water containers to 2,624 people in Lepa,
Saleapaga, and Tiavea villages.
•
On October 8, USAID/OFDA allocated an additional $750,000 to support disaster recovery activities in Samoa.
•
A USAID/OFDA field officer arrived in Samoa on October 9 to assess needs and facilitate USG humanitarian
assistance, in consultation with the U.S. Embassy in Apia.
Tonga
•
On October 6, U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, Nauru, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu, C. Steven McGann, issued a disaster
declaration due to the effects of the tsunami. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy
in Suva, Fiji, to the Tonga Red Cross Society (TRCS) for disaster relief activities.
Vietnam
•
On October 1, U.S. Ambassador Michael W. Michalak issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of Typhoon
Ketsana. In response, USAID/OFDA contributed $100,000 through USAID/Vietnam to IFRC to support Vietnam
Red Cross Society relief operations.
•
On October 20, USAID/OFDA announced plans to provide more than $250,000 to the American Red Cross (AmRC)
to support activities identified under the IFRC emergency appeal. USAID/OFDA funding supports the distribution of
household kits to flood-affected families and the development of a cash transfer program to allow affected families to
purchase emergency and early recovery items locally. Additionally, USAID/OFDA announced an allocation of
$150,000 to Save the Children U.S. (SC/US).
USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO LAOS FOR TYPHOON KETSANA IN FY 2010
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
1
LRCS
Emergency Response Activities
Affected Areas
$50,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA
$50,000
1
USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of October 20, 2009.
USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO INDIA FOR FLOODS IN FY 2010
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
1
CARE
Emergency Relief Supplies
Andhra Pradesh
$85,000
Prime Minister’s
National Relief Fund
Emergency Response Activities
Affected Areas
$15,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA
$100,000
1
USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of October 20, 2009.
Asia and Pacific – Storms, Floods, and Tsunami – October 20, 2009
USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO PHILIPPINES FOR STORMS IN FY 2010
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
1
Adventist
Development and
Relief Agency
(ADRA)
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Metro Manila and
Laguna Province
$395,014
AmRC
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Metro Manila;
Rizal, Laguna,
and Zambales
provinces;
Marikina, Taguig,
and Quezon cities
$500,000
Catholic Relief
Services (CRS)
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Bulacan and Rizal
provinces
$248,081
IOM
Humanitarian Coordination and Information
Management
Affected Areas $150,000
SC/US
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Caloocan,
Muntinlupa,
Laguna, and
Taguig cities
$300,000
Samaritan’s Purse
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Laguna Province
$222,953
USAID/OFDA Airlift
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Calabarzon
Region, National
Capital Region
$361,931
World Food Program
(WFP)
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Affected Areas $500,000
World Vision/US
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Affected Areas $175,947
Administrative Cost
Affected Areas
$5,524
TOTAL USAID/OFDA
$2,859,450
DOD
DoD
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Affected Areas $827,581
TOTAL DOD
$827,581
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN FY 2010
$3,687,031
1
USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of October 20, 2009.
USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SAMOA FOR TSUNAMI IN FY 2010
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
1
Samaritan’s Purse
Emergency Response Activities
Upolo Island
$250,000
SRCS
Emergency Relief Supplies Affected
Areas $100,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA
$350,000
1
USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of October 20, 2009.
USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO TONGA FOR TSUNAMI IN FY 2010
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
TRCS
Emergency Response Activities
Affected Areas
$50,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA
$50,000
1
USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of October 20, 2009.
Asia and Pacific – Storms, Floods, and Tsunami – October 20, 2009
USAID HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO VIETNAM FOR TYPHOON KETSANA IN FY 2010
Implementing Partner
Activity
Location
Amount
USAID/OFDA ASSISTANCE
1
AmRC
Economic Recovery and Market Systems
Quang Nam,
Quang Ngai, Kon
Tum, and Gia Lai
provinces
$252,875
IFRC
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Affected Areas $100,000
SC/US
Emergency Relief Supplies, Logistics and
Transportation
Quang Tri
Province
$150,000
TOTAL USAID/OFDA
$502,875
1
USAID/OFDA funding represents anticipated or actual obligated amounts as of October 20, 2009.
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO ASIA AND PACIFIC FOR STORMS,
FLOODS, AND TSUNAMI IN FY 2010
$4,739,906
PUBLIC DONATION INFORMATION
•
The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations
that are conducting relief operations. A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for storms
and tsunami response efforts in East Asia and the Pacific
can be found at
www.interaction.org
.
•
USAID encourages cash donations because they allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in
the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff time, and warehouse
space); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken
region; and ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.
•
More information can be found at:
o
USAID: www.usaid.gov – Keyword: Donations
o
The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or (703) 276-1914
o
Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at
www.reliefweb.int
.
USAID/OFDA bulletins appear on the USAID web site at
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/