Philippines

In October 2010, Typhoon Megi destroyed homes and affected nearly 2 million people in the Cagayan Valley Region of the Philippin
In October 2010, Typhoon Megi destroyed homes and affected nearly 2 million people in the Cagayan Valley Region of the Philippines.
Ben Hemingway/USAID

 

To date in FY 2012, USAID has responded to two flooding disasters in the Philippines—heavy rains from Tropical Storm Washi that produced flash floods in the Mindanao island group in the southern Philippines in December 2011, as well as heavy monsoon rains exacerbated by Typhoon Haikui that caused flooding in the metropolitan Manila area and northern and eastern regions of the Philippines in August 2012.

USG HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED IN FY 2012

USAID/OFDA Assistance to the Philippines

$6,868,602*

USAID/Philippines Assistance to the Philippines

$769,000

Total USAID and State Assistance to the Philippines

$7,637,602

*This figure includes funding for both disaster response and disaster risk reduction activities. (As of August 13, 2012)

 

Latest Philippines Fact Sheet

USAID/DCHA FY 2012 Philippines Floods Fact Sheet #1 (218kb PDF) and map (377kb PDF)

Key Developments

On December 16, 2011, heavy rains from Tropical Storm Washi, known locally as Sendong, combined with high tides and strong currents to produce flash floods in the Mindanao island group in the southern Philippines, particularly in the most affected Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities. Flash floods occurred at night while most people were asleep, increasing the death toll, according to local media reports. As of January 13, 2012, floods and accompanying landslides had killed nearly 1,300 people and displaced approximately 69,300 others, according to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). In addition, NDRRMC reported that winds, floods, and landslides damaged or destroyed nearly 52,000 houses.

On December 19, 2011, U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. declared a disaster due to the effects of the storm.  In response, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) provided more than $2 million for emergency shelter; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities; and temporary employment opportunities for people whose livelihoods were disrupted by the tropical storm.  USAID/OFDA also supported distribution of emergency relief supplies to vulnerable, affected individuals.

In early August 2012, heavy monsoon rains exacerbated by Typhoon Haikui caused flooding in the metropolitan Manila area and much of northern and eastern Philippines, killing 95 people, displacing approximately 580,000 others, and affecting 3 million individuals.  Prior floods over the previous two weeks had resulted in 53 deaths nationwide. 

In response to an August 7, 2012, disaster declaration, USAID/OFDA provided $500,000 for the distribution of emergency relief supplies to flood-affected populations, as well as logistics and WASH support.  In addition, USAID/OFDA staff traveled to the Philippines to conduct a joint assessment of flood-affected areas with the Australian Government Overseas Aid Program to evaluate humanitarian needs. 

Locations 
Related Sectors of Work 
Last updated: September 17, 2012

@theOFDA

  • theOFDA MT @USAID: We are the largest provider of in-kind food aid + one of largest providers of cash-based food asst in the world. #WFD2012
    6 hours 4 min ago.
  • theOFDA RT @UNICEF: Did you know handwashing with soap is the single most cost-effective health intervention ever? #iwashmyhands Please RT!
    4 days 13 hours ago.
  • theOFDA Women and Girls Reduce Disaster Risk Every Day t.co/ZGNjnYIf #IDDR
    4 days 17 hours ago.
Impact Blog
Frontiers in Development