With more than 200,000 families across the Philippines archipelago affected by Typhoon Fengshan, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is launching an emergency appeal for 8.3 million Swiss Francs (USD 7.9 million or Euro 5.1 million).
In an effort to support the immediate humanitarian needs of those affected, the IFRC has issued 200,000 Swiss francs (USD 190,476 or EUR 122,926) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to the Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC).
Nearly 180 lives were lost, 435 individuals are still missing, and more than 106,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged by high winds and storm surges. The number of casualties is expected to rise as the impact of the loss of a ferry boat, the MV Princess of the Stars, becomes increasingly clear.
According to Roger Bracke, head of delegation for the IFRC in the Philippines, "Typhoon Fengshen defied all predictions that were made by the weather models in the country and other parts of the world as it changed paths and crossed unforeseen parts of the country. It left little time for many communities to prepare for the severe storm that was coming their way.
"On the island of Panay, thousands of families were caught by surprise as floods waters forced them into tree branches or to the roofs of their homes,” he added. Since helicopters were grounded by the harsh weather, most rescue efforts had to wait for the storm to subside.
The PNRC mobilized volunteers in advance of the storm’s onset to support evacuation and sheltering efforts. In the days since Fengshen made landfall, the PNRC has provided emergency relief items, dispatched medical and first aid teams, and sent experts to support families of those onboard the MV Princess of Stars.
The appeal aims to assist 400,000 individuals over the course of the next three months and will focus primarily on providing emergency water supply to the flooded areas, prevention of water-borne diseases, provision of typhoon-resistant shelters and household kits. The Federation will also be working with the PNRC to ensure appropriate minimal early warning systems and first response capacity for the those provinces not previously so susceptible to typhoons.