PHILIPPINES (December 22, 2011) – Tropical Storm Washi made landfall on Dec. 16, 2011. Washi had maximum winds of 65 kph and caused heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides. The deadly flash floods have so far claimed the lives of over 1,000 people. CARE, through our local partners, has conducted assessments and on Saturday we plan to start the delivery of food and other essential items.
The regions of Mindanao and Palawan are rarely hit by typhoons. With less frequent tropical cyclones in these parts of the country, people were therefore less prepared. This has magnified the size of the disaster.
Over 43,000 people are currently in emergency evacuation centres with little access to water and are now reliant on food hand-outs. Other priorities are sleeping mats, blankets, clothing, and cooking and eating utensils.
Besides the loss of life and the destruction of thousands of homes, the typhoon has also had a disastrous impact on people’s livelihoods. Total cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure is initially estimated at PHP1 billion (US$17.5 million).
“People in the areas hit hardest by the storm were unprepared and this has magnified the scale of the disaster and the suffering of the communities,” said Celso Dulce, CARE’s representative in the Philippines. “People are in urgent need of shelter, food and water and CARE, through our local partners, will be addressing these critical needs in the coming days.”
Once the immediate disaster relief is complete, CARE will shift its focus on helping people to rebuild their livelihoods and to improve disaster preparedness.
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE has more than six decades of experience helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed. CARE places special focus on women and children, who are often disproportionately affected by disasters. Our long-term poverty-fighting programs help poor communities become more resilient and less vulnerable to emergencies. Last year, CARE worked in 87 countries around the world to assist more than 82 million people improve basic health and education, fight hunger, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, confrontclimate change, and recover from disasters.