Much of the country is mountainous and prone to earthquakes and eruptions from around 20 active volcanoes. It is often buffeted by typhoons and other storms. The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands covering a land area of 115,739 sq. m. (299,764 sq. km.). Main island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Population growth is estimated at 2.36 percent annually. Luzon, the largest island group, accounts for more than half of the entire population of 91 million.   The Philippines is a newly industrialized country with an agricultural base, light industry, and service-sector economy.  It has been listed in "Next Eleven" economies.

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CERF allocates US$ 938,000 to Philippines for relief to typhoon victims

In late 2006, a series of typhoons affected more than seven million people in the Philippines, causing 1,158 deaths, Php20 billion (approx. US$ 450 million) in infrastructure damage and agricultural losses, and the displacement of more than 300,000 people.  Six months later, the continuing impact of damage to homes, livelihoods, schools, and hospitals – especially in the worst-affected provinces of Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur – have left thousands of people in need of humanitarian assistance, especially in the areas of shelter, food, water and sanitation, and health.  Over 3,000 families are still living in evacuation centers, and an additional 42,000 families are living in shanties or improvised shelters.

CERF allocated US$ 938,000 under its rapid response window to UN agencies to provide emergency relief assistance to typhoon victims.  In late 2006, CERF made a grant of US$ 2.6 million for typhoon relief, in advance of a UN consolidated appeal which ultimately received only 11% of requested funding. The CERF funding enabled UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, IOM to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected communities. WFP provided food assistance and a logistical support to humanitarian operations. CERF funding also enabled FAO projects in the field of agriculture and food security.

New CERF allocation took place in 2007 to address core humanitarian needs of those who were unable to return to their destroyed homes to-date. With CERF funds, IOM will construct temporary shelters, as well as conduct camp management activities including non-food item (NFI) distribution, capacity building, and coordination of humanitarian assistance. In the health sector, WHO will strengthen and expand the existing disease surveillance network and train psychosocial counselors, and UNFPA will support reproductive health activities.

[Last update 20 July 2007]

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CERF in Philippines 2006