CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
SITUATION REPORT #3: TYPHOON DURIAN
December 6, 2006


SITUATION: Rescue and relief efforts continue in southern Vietnam and in the 
central Philippines following the onslaught of Typhoon Durian, which killed 
hundreds and caused millions of dollars in damage to predominately rural areas 
in both countries.

Flooding in the wake of the typhoon remains a key concern in Vietnam, where 
south-central provinces, including Binh Thuan, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Ben Tre and 
Vinh Long, were bracing for rising flood waters, the Reuters news agency 
reported.

Forty-eight peoplein Vietnam were killed from the storm, the Vietnamese 
government reported, with 49 still missing. Nearly 120,900 homes were damaged 
or destroyed and nearly 700 fishing vessels lost, authorities reported.

In the Philippines, where Durian had come ashore just under a category-5 storm, 
some 543 persons were reported dead and 740 remained missing. Nearly 250,000 
homes were damaged, and losses to agriculture and infrastructure were in the 
millions.

The Philippines field office of CWS partner Christian Aid reports that the 
typhoon destroyed most of the basic facilities and infrastructure, including 
electricity and communications, of the affected locations. The most severely 
hit province is Albay, which has yet to recover from both the Mt. Mayon 
eruption in August and Typhoon Xinxane in September. Destruction of residential 
structures and other properties by strong winds and flooding was extensive 
throughout Legaspi City, capital of Albay province.

However, the most devastating was the unexpected mudflow that came from the 
slopes of Mt. Mayon, burying several villages, Christian Aid reported. Among 
the most affected are the small villages at the foot of Mt. Mayon in Legaspi 
Daraga, and Sto. Domingo towns . Two other nearby provinces, Marinduque and 
Mindoro have also suffered extensive damage.

In the current year, the Philippines has been hit by 18 successive typhoons. 
"This is severely affecting the coping capacities of communities and support 
structures," Christian Aid said.


RESPONSE: In Vietnam, CWS staff have left the capital of Hanoi to participate 
in a joint assessment of the affected area. CWS plans to work closely with 
authorities in Ben Tre and Long An provinces, and focus on assessing damage to 
housing, community clinics and schools, said CWS Vietnam Director Joanne 
Fairley, with special attention being paid to damaged water supply systems and 
latrines.

In the Philippines CWS is responding by supporting efforts of Action by 
Churches Together (ACT) members, including Christian Aid and the National 
Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), which are providing relief and 
short-term rehabilitation assistance for the affected communities.

As reported in a Dec. 5 situation report, the NCCP through its relief arm in 
the Bicol region -- the NCCP Andurog Mayon -- is conducting assessments and 
also assisting in rescue operations. Stockpiles from the NCCP's national 
warehouse are being sent to the NCCP Andurog Mayon Operations Center in Legaspi 
City for immediate distribution to the evacuation centers.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is 
responding please visit us online or call the CWS Hotline, (800) 297-1516.

CWS Emergency Response Program special contacts: (212) 870-3151

Program Director: donnajderr@churchworldservice.org
Domestic: lreedbrown@churchworldservice.org
International: flumeya@churchworldservice.org

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