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Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (18 - 24 September 2018)

Countries
Philippines
+ 3 more
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

PHILIPPINES

As of 21 September, more than 1.6 million people have reportedly been affected by Typhoon Mangkhut (locally named Ompong) which made landfall on 15 September. Regions I, II, III and CAR in northern and central Luzon are the most impacted. More than 128,000 people remain displaced, with over 54,000 people seeking shelter in more than 365 evacuation centres, and more than 74,000 people staying with host families. The Government has confirmed 23 deaths, although the media has reported that more than 80 people have died. More than 49,000 houses are reported damaged or destroyed, and over 288,000 farmers and fisherfolk severely affected. The national government estimates the total damage to infrastructure and agriculture to exceed PhP17.9 billion (US$340 million).
Humanitarian organizations are coordinating with their Government counterparts in responding to affected areas.

128,000 people remain displaced

On 20 September, following days of heavy rains, a steep slope in a quarrying community in Naga City,
Cebu, collapsed burying 60 houses in at least eight feet of mud. Local officials report that nine people have been rescued and 25 dead bodies have been recovered. Search and rescue teams from the police and fire services continue to look for 60 more who are trapped under rubble. The local government of Naga City sought assistance from national government in terms of search and rescue operations and establishment of evacuation centres. Some 1,700 people are currently displaced and staying in two evacuation centres.

25 people dead

AFGHANISTAN

In the first half of September, an estimated 120,000 people have been displaced from rural areas of Badghis to Qala-e-Naw as a result of drought. As of 20 September, an estimated 253,600 people are currently displaced from drought affected areas across the Western Region. A further 28,000 people displaced by the drought have returned to their homes in Muqur district of Badghis, in the last two weeks, upon assurances of food distributions in their home villages. Existing response capacity at more than a dozen sites in Qala-e-Naw and its surroundings is limited: around 42,000 people have insufficient access to safe drinking water and over 130,000 people have no access to sanitation facilities with people living in makeshift shelters.

INDONESIA

As of 23 September, the number of hotspots in all 34 provinces in Indonesia has increased to 4,355 hotpots. Central Kalimantan has 889 hotspots followed by West Kalimantan (605), East Nusa Tenggara (421) and East Kalimantan (378).

THAILAND

Since 16 September, heavy rain has been affecting northern Thailand (Mae Hong Son and Tak Provinces), causing flash flooding and landslides resulting in casualties and damage to homes. As of 20 September, two people had died, seven were missing, 11 injured and more than 10 houses damaged in Sop Moei District (Mae Hong Son Province) following landslides. The media reports that at least 13,000 refugees are affected by heavy rain in Mae La Oun refugee camp.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.