ReliefWeb

FIJI

As of 11 March, some 14,800 people affected by Typhoon Winston remain in 476 evacuation centres. All evacuation centres in Central Division have closed and only three remain open in Northern Division. In Eastern Division, however, 7,800 people remain in the centres including people from the most severely affected islands including Koro.

Over 80 government agencies, humanitarian organizations and multinational forces continue to respond. Some 34,000 people were provided with water, sanitation and hygiene services and 95 per cent of targeted beneficiaries have received emergency food assistance.

MONGOLIA

On 10 March, the Government requested the Humanitarian Country Team for assistance to procure additional vaccine supplies worth $270,500 to contain sheep pox outbreak associated with the dzud in six provinces (aimags).

From 3 to 5 March, heavy snow storms affected four districts of Ulaanbaatar and 42 districts in 16 provinces. Of the 136 people reported missing, 134 were rescued.

Authorities confirmed two fatalities in the provinces of Bayan-Ulgii and Govi-Altai.

INDONESIA

As of 13 March, 151 hotspots were identified in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Java islands (most fires are in East Kalimantan and Riau provinces).

On 7 March, Riau declared an emergency response for the next three months. More than 220 hectares of land have burned in the province. The National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) is mobilizing helicopters and is ready to disburse additional funds to contain the fires.

MYANMAR

Local authorities, civil society and aid organizations have provided relief services to the remaining 1,100 people displaced in Kyaukme Township, by fighting that took place between armed groups in February in northern Shan State. Another 1,100 people also remain displaced in Namhkan Township.

During the past week, new armed clashes between the Myanmar Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army displaced another 500 people around Nam Hpet Kar village.

VIETNAM

Severe drought and salt intrusion in the Mekong Delta is affecting 39 out of 63 provinces. As of 10 March, an estimated 195,200 households (976,000 people) lack sufficient water supply to meet daily needs.

Ten provinces have declared a state of emergency. According to authorities, 159,000 hectares of rice paddy have been lost, amounting to an economic loss of US$10.5 million – an additional 500,000 hectares are at risk of being lost by mid-2016. On 15 March, the Government and the UN will organise a partnership meeting to jointly assess response and recovery needs in the drought affected areas.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Out of the estimated 700,000 people living in areas at high risk of food insecurity due to drought, 400,000 people (57 per cent) are facing critical food shortage. Access to remote island communities remains difficult due to high transport costs. Authorities and in-country partners prioritised response activities targeting the most vulnerable in the highlands, Western Province and the small islands in Milne Bay.

With the recent monsoon rains, farmers in the provinces of Jiwaka, Chimbu and some areas of Enga began re-planting staple crops and vegetables. Agricultural support, such as seeds and planting materials, are required to facilitate recovery.

PHILIPPINES

As of 9 March, nearly 305,000 people (61,000 families) in 20 of the 36 municipalities in Maguindanao province were affected by drought. Some 33,500 (6,700 families) received relief assistance including rice, canned food, noodles, fresh fish, coffee and sugar from provincial authorities. 305,000 people affected In Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces, an estimated 65,700 people (13,100 families) remain displaced due to fighting between the military and unidentified armed groups. Food, potable water and NFIs are needed