By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora
MANILA – The United Nations (UN) is allocating USD10.5 million or approximately PHP607 million in new relief support to regions hit hard by the recent tropical cyclones in the Philippines.
The UN Philippines announced the new funding on Friday as it issued the revised Humanitarian Needs and Priority Plan (HNP), which targets to gather USD42.4 million (PHP2.47 billion) for typhoon-stricken communities.
“Following more devastation in an unprecedented typhoon season affecting almost 13 million people, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) has since increased its target to USD42.4 million under the updated HNP — with USD10.5 million from the UN-CERF (Central Emergency Response Fund),” UN Philippines Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Gustavo González said.
UN-CERF’s contribution will be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the UN Population Fund and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“These overlapping typhoons aggravated the humanitarian situation and exhausted local response capacities across all regions affected. The time to act is now,” Gonzalez said.
Over the last five weeks, the HCT had been urging donors and partners to come forward and help relief efforts through the HNP.
As of Dec. 5, a total of USD20.1 million (PHP1.17 billion) are needed to meet the revised targets while at least USD22.3 million (PHP1.3 billion) of contributions are already identified under the plan.
The updated HNP will support more than 535,000 in nine Luzon provinces — Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Norte.
The UN Philippines said this would help the government and humanitarian partners in delivering lifesaving assistance, from emergency shelter, health, nutrition, water, early recovery, to hygiene and sanitation support, over the the next six months.
Initial funding requirement for the HNP was pegged at USD33 million (PHP1.92 billion) to assist 210,000 individuals.
“We are gradually making strides in gathering resources and thankful to each and one of our donors who heeded our call,” Gonzalez said.
“We still urge our partners to continue helping us fill long-term and critical gaps for recovery and help us reach the targets under the HNP Plan.”
The US government has committed USD6 million to support logistics, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and other initiatives related to disaster response.
The Australian government also allotted USD3.5 million for food security, gender protection, and livelihood recovery efforts, while Germany pledged USD400,000.
Contributions from the governments of the United Kingdom (USD1.25 million through UNICEF and WFP) and Canada (USD355,872 through WFP) will also be allocated to the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino) Program.
South Korea pledged a USD500,000 contribution to help in disaster response.
The cash assistance will complement ongoing aid by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and WFP to the Bicol region, particularly under the 4Ps. (PNA)
