UN: 190,000 Pinoys left homeless by 4 typhoons

The Philippine Star

GENEVA (AP) – The four typhoons that have struck the Philippines over the past two months have left more than 190,000 people homeless and 100,000 in need of urgent food aid, the United Nations said.

The typhoons brought mudslides, flooding and landslides over the Philippine archipelago, destroying more than 330,000 buildings, including numerous schools and hospitals, the global body’s humanitarian office said in a statement.

More than 1,400 people have been reported dead or missing since the end of November, the agency said, adding that casualty figures from the latest two typhoons, "Reming" and "Seniang," were still rising.

"It is now important that we can get through to the affected people," said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA. "We also have to prevent the spread of diseases, and keep health services running."

The United Nations is asking donors to donate $46 million so that the UN can provide thousands of people with food and shelter over the next 12 months, Byrs said.

Seniang hit the country last weekend, only nine days after Reming swept over the Philippines, dumping heavy rains that unleashed volcanic mudslides on villages in Bicol. "Milenyo," in September, and "Paeng" one month later also caused significant damage.

Damages to roads and other facilities, agricultural crops and the fishing industry amounted to losses of $246 million, according to the OCHA.

UNICEF spokesman Michael Bociurkiw said nine out of 10 schools were destroyed in Albay, which was devastated by mudslides.

The World Food Program said it plans to bring food aid to the 50,000 people most in need. Another 50,000 will receive food supplies directly from the Philippine government, said WFP spokesman Simon Pluess.

The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms a year. Seniang was the 19th this year.