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Press Releases & Updates

26 NOV 2013

Latest Situation of the Philippines Typhoon

  • Typhoon Haiyan has affected over 13 million people and killed thousands. Over 4 million people are displaced and over 18,000 injured. 1,600 people are still missing.
  • Two weeks on, there is a significant improvement in access to disaster affected areas as roads, seaports and air strips have opened and some telecommunications have been restored. Congestion at Tacloban airport is starting to ease.
  • Even though access is now improving, there are still health concerns, with urgent need for safe drinking water and medical assistance, especially in Leyte and Samar. 
  • The most immediate needs on the ground are food, clean water, shelter and sanitation.
  • Aid is now getting through. According to the announcement of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on 22 November, 2.5 million people have been reached with basic food assistance, and over 1.1 million family food packs with rice and high energy biscuits have been distributed after two weeks.
  • Typhoon Haiyan has hit the poorest and most vulnerable people the hardest. The typhoon affected a third of the country’s rice growing areas and missing the next planting season in December will potentially leave millions of Filipinos without their staple food as well as a huge loss of income for farmers.

 

Oxfam’s Response

  • Oxfam has now reached over 36,000 people with emergency relief.
  • 1,200 hygiene and water kits were distributed in Tacloban and Palo on 21 November, reaching 6,000 people. Another 1,400 were distributed on 22 November in Tanauan.
  • Two platforms have been set up in Tacloban for 5,000 litre water bladders and water trucking has been organized by the government’s water department.
  • Oxfam has reached 2,600 people on Bantayan island with hygiene and water kits on 22 November. Distribution had to be stopped because of a sand storm followed by heavy rain.
  • Water and hygiene kits have been distributed to over 800 families in need in Daanbayatan. These kits included basic essentials like soap, toothbrushes, underwear and blankets. 
  • Oxfam has provided over 5,000 households with assistance, so they can buy essentials like fuel, medicines and transport.
  • A total of 40 tonnes of Oxfam relief has now arrived in Cebu and 3 field bases are being established for distribution of this aid.
  • We will be providing mobile water treatment units (that can generate 4-6 cubic metres per hour) to at least 5 different sites, complete with generators and fuel to run them. We will also be installing mass water storage (either steel tanks that can accommodate up to 45,000 litres or a ‘bladder’ which holds 10,000 litres) complete with tap stands. Oxfam staff will treat and/or repair existing hand pumps and water points.
  • We will be providing 1,000 communal temporary latrines, cleaning kits and handwashing stations.