SAMAR AND LEYTE – HAIYAN/YOLANDA UPDATE 5 Relief efforts continue in the typhoon-impacted provinces of Samar and Leyte. The situation remains critical for isolated areas, but relief workers are gradually gaining access to regions previously unreachable due to impassable roads and bridges. The extensive infrastructure damage still severely hampers the transport of emergency supplies throughout affected areas. In many cases, the use of air assets remains the only viable option for transporting emergency supplies to isolated victims. Over the past 24 hours, there has been no meaningful improvement in the availability of running water and communication lines. Power remains unavailable for large portions of the affected areas. Fuel supplies are limited and an ongoing rationing scheme may impact the effectiveness of relief activities until fuel supplies are restored. Relief and Rescue Operations As of 6:00AM, November 16, the official death toll climbed to 3,633 people, while the number of reported injured also increased to approximately 12,500 people. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) reports that Typhoon Yolanda has impacted an estimated nine million people living across 44 provinces. More than 1,100 evacuation centers have been established to assist the now 1.9 million displaced residents. The Philippine Government – in coordination with humanitarian organizations and foreign governments – continues to distribute supplies to impacted areas. More than 18,000 people have been dispatched to assist in current relief efforts. Marine vessels, aircraft, and vehicles have also been deployed to the region. Foreign Radio Response, an emergency humanitarian system, has been set up in Tacloban and Ormoc cities to provide up-to-date information on relief operations. This station can can be accessed on 98.7 MHz FM. The international community continues to support relief efforts. Most recently, Thailand announced its willingness to send C-130 aircraft and medical supplies to further boost relief efforts. Turkey has sent an Airbus A330 cargo aircraft stocked with food and other emergency supplies. Security A curfew from 6:00PM to 6:00AM remains in effect in Tacloban City to help prevent an outbreak of looting and crime. The number of government security forces have reached approximately 3,000 personnel, and authorities announced the deployment of an additional 800 police officers to the affected area due to continued reports of lootings and armed robberies. Security personnel have likewise been assigned to secure the distribution of relief goods and fuel. With regards to entry points and supply routes, which are vital for those involved in relief operations, the government continues to maintain checkpoints in strategic areas. Utility Services The Department of Energy announced that it hopes to restore power in parts of Leyte and Samar by December 24. Approximately 100 generator sets are being distributed to local government units to provide emergency power until electricity is restored. In other areas of the region that were not as severely affected by the typhoon, such as northern Cebu, Iloilo, and the Negros Island, intermittent power outages can be expected due to diminished overall power capacity in the Visayas Region. Telephone lines have yet to be fully restored, while mobile phone services have been partially restored in Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Southern Leyte provinces. Potable water is not available in the majority of affected areas. Transportation Commercial flights between Manila-Tacloban and Cebu-Tacloban have gradually increased. However, such flights remain limited due to damaged facilities at the Tacloban City domestic airport. Extensive delays and limited capacity have been reported at the Matnog Port, which has served as the key transit point for those traveling from Luzon to the affected regions of Samar and Leyte via the Pan-Philippine Highway. Given the limited number of flights to Tacloban, this port is essential for the movement of people and supplies to and from Samar and Leyte. The Department of Transportation and Communications said it plans to dispatch at least two more ships to ease the gridlick. However, extensive delays at the Matnog Port are expected in the coming days with only four working ramps and eight ferries servicing the approximately one hundred trucks and buses destined for Samar and Leyte arriving at the port daily. PSA continues to advise clients to carefully consider the essential nature of any travel to these affected areas. However, those who need to extract their personnel or take part in relief and operations are advised to contact the following agencies: NDRRMC: ( +632) 911-1406, 912 - 2665, 912-5668, 911 - 1873, 912-3046 , and 911-5061 to 64 Philippine Red Cross Hotline: 143 and ( +632) 527-0000 Philippine Red Cross Tracing Services: o Email: [email protected] and [email protected] o Mobile: ( +63) 9175328500 o Landline: ( +632) 5270867 and 5270000 loc. 126, o Website: https://docs.google/forms/d/16aq0AH-OnEE_bM53iL5qInqHPZ28lntEXPs-rS01a88/viewform Google Person Finder: google.org/personfinder/2013-yolanda/ Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Disaster Mitigation and Response Map: disaster.dswd.gov.ph/maps.php
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 02:21:36 +0000
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