CERF gives US$1,703,472 million to protect typhoon victims in the Philippines
27 December 2012: On 4 December 2012, Typhoon Bopha hit the east coast of Mindanao in southern Philippines. The typhoon was the sixteenth storm to hit the Philippines in 2012 and the most powerful in decades. More than 6.2 million people have been affected and over 987,000 people have been displaced. More than 158,600 houses were damaged or destroyed in the typhoon, and vast tracts of agricultural land were ruined.
Sixty-five evacuation centres have been established to shelter the high number of displaced people. In addition to the need for shelter, prolonged displacement poses great health and protections risks, especially to the most vulnerable people such as women, children, the elderly and those with disabilities.
In response, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has provided a rapid response grant of US$1,703,472 to three UN agencies.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has received $499,992 to ensure the protection of affected and displaced people. The World Health Organization (WHO) has received $606,420 to provide emergency health services, including ensuring equitable and timely access to health-care centres, particularly for the most affected people. Through an allocation of $597,060, the International Labour Organization (ILO) will help the local authorities to clear and manage the debris generated by the typhoon to reduce health risks and the threat to lives.
It is expected that the allocation will benefit 855,000 people.