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An Appeal for Emergency Support for the Communities Affected by Tropical Storm/Typhoon Sendong “Washi” in the Areas of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte

“Mother, we are not involved in logging and mining, why are we affected by the floods? This question was asked by a little girl while they were running for their lives”…

It was midnight of December 16, 2011 when Typhoon Sendong landed in Northern Mindanao including the cities of Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro. It brought heavy rains which resulted to flash floods to numbers of communities. As of Dec. 19, 11:00 p.m., it is estimated that there are already 937 people killed, more than 1,500 are still missing, more than 167,000 affected individuals, and almost 20,000 families were displaced which are located in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Zambaonga Del Norte, ARMM, Negros Provinces and of the affected areas of the Philippines.

In Iligan City, there are 273 recorded death incidence and there are 230 missing individuals while there is a total of 9, 214 house damaged, properties and infrastructures. The internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iligan City are housed in 16 evacuation centers, relatives’ houses and offices of partners’ organization. But, many of the IDPs opted not to stay in the evacuation centers because of the difficult access to food supplies, facilities, overcrowded, poor sanitation, lack of potable water and

limited number or no toilets at all to accommodate evacuees. Thus, many victims are not recorded which means that official number of affected families and individuals is definitely higher than the official records. The flashfloods in Iligan City has directly affected 24 out of 44 barangays.

This tragedy has affected communities of our networks and partners in Iligan City like LIHUK (working in urban poor), CLUTCH (drivers organization), MTPYC (youth service organization), and RDRRAC (disaster response and rehab organization). Aside from our communities, personnel and staff of our partner institutions namely SALAM, LIHUK, ERDAC, SUMPAY, MTPYC, LAFCCOD, LAHRA and MPPM are also affected.

Based on the report during December 19, 2011 network meeting in Iligan City, the data and information from the communities, urgent needs of the affected staff and partner communities are the following:

– 1^st: Food – Rice, drinking water, dried fish, can goods, mongo, tinapa, mongoes, oil, soya sauce, salt, coffee, milk;

– 2^nd Non-Food – Blanket, mosquito nets, slippers, mats, clothing for children/adults: underwear, shirts, shorts, underwear;

– 3^rd Hygiene kit – bath and laundry soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, napkins, diapers;

– 4^th Kitchenware – cooking pots, ladle, cups, drinking glass, tablespoon, pitcher, water containers/jugs, pail, water tubs;

– 5thFirst aid kit – alcohol, cotton, betadine, bandage, plaster, gauze bandage.

With the current situation of Iligan City and of the entire affected communities, we appeal for your support to help respond to the urgent needs of the communities we are working with. Any donation can be channeled to our network command center, RDRRAC, (Ranaw Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Assistance Center Inc.) at Door 2 Maca-agir Apt., 6^th East, Tubod, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte Philippines, telephone number +63 63-223-3171. You may deposit your monetary donation in their account:

Land Bank of the Philippines Account Number: 0321-1964-03, Iligan City, Ranaw Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Assistance Center (RDRRAC Inc).

China Banking Corporation Account Name: RDRRAC, Inc. with account no. 186-123321-9 Swift Code: CHBKPHMM

Allied Bank Dollar Account Name: RDRRACI Account No. 0672-00299-8 Swift Code: ABCMPHMM or

Paypal ID: ching.borres gmail.com

We are hoping for your compassion and solidarity.

ADONA ORQUILAS
Executive Director
Ranaw Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Assistance Center, Inc. (RDRRAC, Inc.)

Network members: Sumpay Mindanao, ERDAC Inc., MTPYC, AKMK, MPPM-KM, LIHUK, ACHDI, RWCRC, CLUTCH, LAHRA, PAGLINGKAWAS, LAFCCOD, DKMP-Lanao, CHARM, WATCH