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Philippines: Typhoon Sarika - DREF (MDRPH021) preliminary final report

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Philippines
Sources
IFRC
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A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster
On 16 October 2016, at 2:30 AM, Typhoon Sarika (locally known as Karen) made landfall over Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 150 km per hour and gustiness of up to 210 km per hour, and moved west across the Luzon mainland before heading out to the sea west of the Philippines. By morning of 17 October, Typhoon Sarika had exited the PAR, according to PAGASA. At Sarika’s peak, Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) number 3 was raised in 11 provinces, TCWS number 2 in 10 provinces and Metro Manila, and TCWS number 1 raised in 12 provinces.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) report a total of 73,617 families (329,468 person) were affected in 1,491 barangays in Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, V and CAR. According to government data, 12,777 houses were damaged, of which, 11,356 are partially damaged and 1,421 are destroyed. Furthermore, damage to agriculture sector amounted to PHP 3.6 billion (approximately CHF 74 million) while damage to infrastructure stands at around PHP 226 million (approximately CHF 4.6 million).

Summary of current response

Overview of Host National Society
Since Typhoon Sarika entered PAR, PRC’s operation centre (OpCen), which functions 24/7, was monitoring the weather disturbance and was disseminating advisories from PAGASA and NDRRMC to chapters in areas that were likely to be affected. Trained and well-equipped staff and volunteers were deployed in areas affected by Sarika prior and after its landfall.

PRC immediately conducted rapid assessments in the three hardest hit chapters of Aurora, Catanduanes, and Nueva Vizcaya. They identified that the immediate needs were food, non-food and hygiene items. IFRC requested a DREF for CHF 169,011, in support of the PRC response, which was approved on 19 October 2016. The DREF supported PRC to deliver humanitarian assistance in the provinces of Aurora, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya with the following items/support:

Overview of Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in country
PRC led the overall response plan to which Movement partners contributed. The in-country Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners (PRC, IFRC, ICRC and PNSs) have an existing coordination mechanism in the form of a monthly Movements Coordination Meeting. These meetings cover regular updates from different Movement Partners, immediate issues to be handled and the plan of action.

Overview of non-RCRC actors in country
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have been monitoring the Typhoon as soon as it developed as a low pressure area within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). The NDRRMC began issuing storm advisories since 13 October 2016, and directed Regional counterparts through the Office of Civil Defense Regional Offices to undertake precautionary measures in their areas of responsibility and subsequently advised local counterparts to initiate pre-emptive evacuation of families in low-lying and mountainous areas if the situation warrants.

NDRRMC have also conducted pre-disaster risk assessment meetings on 12 and 13 October. Results of the meetings were disseminated to Regions I, II, III V and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Coordinating with the authorities
As an auxiliary to the public authorities, PRC maintains a strong relationship with government bodies through participation and collaboration with the NDRRMC, its provincial, municipal and barangay counterparts; and local government units defined in the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Inter-agency coordination
Further to coordinating with public authorities, PRC and IFRC participate in Humanitarian Country Team forums held during disaster and non-emergency times. PRC and IFRC were involved in relevant cluster information sharing, planning and analysis at all levels while IFRC supported PRC coordination efforts through representation in other relevant clusters as required, ensuring that PRC activities were reflected in the UN OCHA 3W. IFRC is also the convenor of the shelter cluster in the Philippines. However, clusters were not activated for this response.