ACT Appeal ASPH61 - Assistance to survivors of Leyte landslide

Geneva, May 3, 2006

Information provided by ACT member National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)

The geographical location of the ACT response is in Barangays Guinsa-ugon, Magatas, Hinabian, Atuyan, Sug-angon and Ayahag.

NCCP's is implementing the response in partnership with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, UCCP is the only NCCP member church in the affected area. The other local partner is the Interfaith Humanitarian Mission, a small group of church people from the NCCP Member Churches and the Roman Catholic Church based in Tacloban City. Its main work is to provide humanitarian assistance to families and communities affected by natural and human-made disasters in Eastern Visayas.

The appeal was issued on March 13, with the completion date set for December 31. The appeal target is $200,170 US with $87,654 US received so far.

Relief Programs:

Assistance has so far been given to 800 families or 3,608 individuals, all having sought shelter in five official evacuation centres.

Type of assistance provided:

Food bags for 716 families: 7 kg of rice, 1 pack of mongo beans, 1 pack of dried fish, 2 cans of sardines, 1 pint of oil and 1 pack of sugar.

Non-food items: plastic mats and blankets--donated by The Salvation Army (TSA)--laundry soap, tents, housing materials, plastic sheeting and canvas tents.

Medical assistance and sanitation has included making available six boxes of assorted medicines, bottled water to 2,280 people, and distributing health kits (473) donated by Lutheran World Relief.

Clothing that has been distributed has included 66 bags of assorted clothing and sandals and shoes (11 bags), all donated by TSA.

Activities conducted:

Medicines were supplied during a medical mission conducted by the College of Maasin and Southern Christian College faculty and nursing students, including Bethany Hospital medical professionals. The mission served some 250 persons from Barangays Magatas, Hinabian, Guinsaugon, Ayahag and Sug-angon.

The Inter-Faith Humanitarian Mission, in cooperation with NCCP, conducted a medical mission and relief distribution, serving 270 patients in two evacuation centres (Central School and Catmon Elementary School).

The Southern-Western Leyte Conference of UCCP conducted a medical/dental mission in cooperation with NCCP on April 5 and served some 130 patients from Catmon and Central Elementary Schools.

UCCP St. Bernard volunteers distributed NCCP food bags to evacuees from Barangay Magatas (90 families), Nueva Esperanza (91 families), Hinabian (91 families), Atuyan (25 families) and Causwagan (19 families).

Coordination:

Responses were coordinated with local government units by the local pastor of UCCP-St Bernard, who also acted as the church representative to the Inter-Agency Committee formed by the local government units.

Relief goods from the national office were transported to St Bernard in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard.

The Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP) and The Salvation Army (TSA) responded positively to the ongoing local resource mobilisation.

Human Resources:

The activities held were implemented with the participation of church members from the UCCP-St. Bernard, the Interfaith Humanitarian Mission and students from the College of Maasin and Brokenshire College.

Constraints:

During the preparation of the appeal, there was a projection that the quantity of available relief goods would be enough to support the evacuees up till such a time as they would be able to resettle in the new relocation areas. However, even though the supply of relief items is dwindling, there is still a need to provide support to many of the families who have not yet been relocated.

No relocation sites have been identified for evacuees from Barangays Magatas, Hinabian, Causwagan and Ayahag. Local government units have yet to identify the relocation areas for the families-evacuees, which means that their stay in the tent 'cities' within the compounds of Catmon Elementary School, Central School and Cristo Rey High School have been extended. There are still 422 families staying in Catmon Elementary School; 236 families in Central School and 210 families in Cristo Rey High School.

If the need for relief assistance will continue longer than the projected period, there may be a need to make revise the budget, primarily to factor in additional provision for food.

The NCCP program staff will be conducting consultations with the local partners next week to discuss updates on the situation of the evacuees, prospects for relocation and possible immediate interventions.