An IOM team in the typhoon-hit Bicol region of the central Philippines has started to deliver emergency shelter and non-food items to an estimated 5,000 households in the hardest hit provinces.

The logistics operation, funded with $250,000 from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), will complement the Philippine government’s efforts to bring relief to the region struck by Typhoon Reming on November 30th.

Reming, also known as Durian, swept through the Bicol provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, and Camarines Sur leaving some 1,400 people dead or missing and 2,000 injured. As many as 100,000 people were displaced and many people in the region are still without food, water and electricity.

"IOM has established an operations hub in Legaspi and we are working closely with national and local government and humanitarian agencies to coordinate our response," said IOM Regional Representative Bruce Reed.

"We are also assessing the condition of the displaced population to identify areas where assistance is needed most urgently. A review of the health situation is underway and we are bringing in a camp management expert to assess shelter options for people made homeless by the typhoon," said Reed, who is based in Manila.

Initial assessments conducted by the UN following the typhoon identified a need for food and non-food items including sleeping mats, blankets and mosquito nets; drinking water; water purification tablets and systems; medicine and medical kits for children and adults; emergency shelter in the form of individual household tents; and power generator sets to support lifeline services in health centers.

IOM is planning to appeal to international donors for an additional US$ 6 million to provide emergency relief for another 95,000 internally-displaced people in the Bicol region.

For more information, please contact:

Ruffy L. Villanueva
IOM Manila
Tel: +63.2.8481260-63
Mobile: +63.918.4211786
E-mail: rvillanueva@iom.int