15 November 2013 (UNOCHA) – One week after Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) struck the Philippines, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) estimates that 12.9 million people have been affected across nine regions (Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, Bicol, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga). These figures continue to change as more reports are verified.
The number of people displaced increased from 900,000 people on 14 November to 1.9 million people on 15 November. In the same period, the number of people living outside of evacuation centers has almost tripled from over 575,000 people to 1.4 million people. About 423,000 people remain in 1,145 evacuation centers.
According to DSWD, 285,993 houses were damaged, with about 56 per cent destroyed and uninhabitable. Rapid assessments indicate that 90 per cent of day care centers (DCCs) and public schools are damaged in Region VI. In Region VIII alone, 1,948 schools and 1,600 day care centers are destroyed impacting the education of 590,000 children and 48,000 children respectively. Numbers are expected to increase as assessment teams travel to more areas.
Of 40 health facilities assessed, one hospital in Iloilo and four in Leyte are not operational. Assessments are ongoing and these figures may rise. Functioning hospitals are overstretched. Eastern Visayas Medical Centre is the only operational hospital in Tacloban, while Bethany Hospital remains closed due to insecurity.
The Department of Public Works reported that all main roads in affected areas are passable. Debris continues to litter secondary roads which impedes the delivery of aid in remote areas.
Mobile telephone network in 16 of 21 towns in Eastern Samar province and 21 out of 42 towns in Leyte province and most areas of Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo provinces have been restored. Five to six weeks is needed to restore electricity in all affected areas.
Relief operations continued to scale up with additional delivery transport assets, including a United States aircraft carrier which is positioned in Leyte Gulf to assist the Government in Eastern Visayas. In Western Visayas, Canada is deploying to Capiz and Iloilo provinces with medical supplies, water purification and engineering and air transport. The Logistics Cluster is facilitating the charter of a ferry from Cebu City to Tacloban for the humanitarian community to transport relief cargo.
Response activities have increased in the worst-affected areas of Regions VI, VII and VIII. On 14 November, the food cluster distributed 34,095 family food packs in Leyte Province. To date, 170,475 people have received family food packs.
Tacloban city’s water supply is operational. The Armed Forces of the Philippines will make available 6,000 litres of fuel for the city’s main water treatment plant to sustain supply for seven days. The United States committed additional fuel to support the operation of the treatment plant for 10 to 15 days. Water treatment units are needed for towns outside the city and in highland areas. The Philippine Red Cross in coordination with the water authorities will lead the coordination of water delivery services.
The Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster observed large numbers of people heading to Ormoc City and Cebu City. People continue to line up at Tacloban airport seeking to travel to other parts of the country. DSWD reported about 100 people from Tacloban evacuated to Manila but not all had places to stay upon arrival. [more]
Philippines: Typhoon Haiyan Situation Report No. 9 (as of 15 November 2013)
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