OCHA Situation Report No. 2
The Philippines: Typhoon
3 December 2006


This situation report is based on information received from the 
Philippines National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the 
Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC).

Situation

1. Typhoon Durian - known as "Reming" in the Philippines - that hit the 
country on 30 November and 1 December, caused widespread flooding, 
damaged property and triggered landslides in eleven provinces. Durian 
achieved maximum sustained winds of 190 kph at its centre with gusts of 
up to 225 kph.

2. The NDCC reports that 455,593 people (93,582 families) have been 
affected by the typhoon.

3. 29,790 people (55,612 families) have been evacuated from their homes 
and are now living in 190 designated evacuation centres.

4. The NDCC reports 208 people confirmed dead, 261 missing and 82 
injured. The PNRC reports that 'at least 388' people have died. A total 
of 82 people are known to have died in three villages near Daraga in 
Albay province due to landslides near the Mount Mayon volcano.

5. A total of 25,545 properties are known to have been destroyed and a 
further 80,532 partially damaged.

6. Fallen trees and debris initially closed a large number of roads 
across the affected region. A number of roads have now been cleared, 
opening up access to affected areas.

7. Widespread power and communications outages continue. Power outages 
remain in Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines 
Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon Provinces. Communications links 
with Catanduanes remain down.

National and International Response

8. The NDCC is coordinating a number of Search and Rescue operations and 
has given assurances that it is in control of the situation.

9. Government agencies have provided initial relief assistance including 
food, medicines, shelter items and body bags.

10. A call for international early recovery assistance is likely to be 
made. The scope of the appeal will be determined after the NDCC has 
conducted damage and needs assessments. The results of these assessments 
are not expected to be known before 2 December.

11. The PNRC has deployed two assessment teams, one in Sorsogon and 
Albay provinces and the other in Camarines Sur and Quezon. A PNRC 
tactical rescue team is providing assistance in flooded areas. The 
10-member team is staffing a first aid station and conducting 
water-borne rescue operations.

12. The IFRC is mobilising a Field Assessment Coordination Team (FACT) 
member and 10 Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) members to support 
PNRC with relief distributions.

13. UNICEF dispatched emergency health supplies for 10,000 people for 
three months in Albay province on 1 December. Additional medicines, food 
and shelter supplies will be dispatched over the weekend. UNICEF is 
appealing for US$310,000 to address the health needs of evacuees, 
improve damaged water and sanitation facilities, provide "school in a 
box" kits and establish child friendly spaces for traumatized children.

14. This situation report, together with the information on 
contributions and other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the 
OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Map: Philippines: Typhoon Durian - Landslides in Albay

Tel.:  +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Ms. Paola Emerson direct Tel. +41-22-9171613

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126

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Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
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Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
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