FROM THE FIELD

Typhoon Durian Disaster - Philippines

The Save the Children Alliance is mobilising an initial response to assist thousands of affected children and families displaced by the recent typhoon and resulting mudslides in Southern Luzon, Philippines.  The two Alliance members present in the country, Save the Children United States and Save the Children Sweden successfully worked together during the Southern Leyte mudslide response, with Save the Children United States being the Lead Member in coordinated emergency action in the Philippines. This proposed intervention aims to provide essential Non Food Items as well as child-focused psychosocial and emergency education interventions.  There is also an urgent need to address the most critical needs of children and their families in the areas of child protection, education, and shelter.

Update on the Disaster Situation

• A population estimate of affected/displaced populations by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) is at 250,875 families or 1,094,218 persons as of 6.00am of 4 December 2006
• The Provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Marinduque were declared by the Philippines Government to be under a State of Calamity

Alliance Coordination

Save the Children response to date:

• Within 48 hours, Save the Children deployed an initial assessment team. They transported with them bottled water and essential non-food items, as well as sets of play and recreation materials and Vitamin A capsules (good for 5,000 children, to be coursed through the provincial level Department of Social Welfare and Development and Rural Health Units for distribution) that can cover at least 3 evacuation sites
• Save the Children is in close communication with different governmental and non-governmental actors present in the affected areas since the onset of the disaster and is currently coordinating with other agencies for information and analysis sharing as well as sector coordination.
• Save the Children is pursuing funding opportunities with OFDA, AusAID, and the Packard Foundation and others for possible funding support.
• Save the Children will continue to monitor the situation and explore other funding opportunities and interventions based on needs identified through more detailed field assessments.
• Save the Children United States and Sweden will continue communications regarding intervention planning.

Outstanding needs that Save the Children Alliance is ready to carry out immediately

Specific needs will be determined after detailed field assessments but these may include the following items:

Non-food items (NFIs)

• water containers- plastic jerry cans, plastic pail with cover
• hygiene kits- bath and detergent soap, toothpaste, toothbrush
• plastic mats
• rice pots
• plates and tumblers
• spoons and forks
• blankets
• flashlights and batteries
• shelter kits – plastic sheeting, bednets

Child Protection and Emergency Education

• recreation kits for children
• psychosocial support for children- setting up safe spaces for children
• capacity-building for emergency education providers such as day care workers and elementary school teachers
• child protection interventions
• emergency health and nutrition (e.g. hygiene/diarrhoeal disease prevention, micronutrient malnutrition)

Support to local disaster coordination and governance structures

• strengthening of existing government structures for children’s welfare such as the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC)

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]