Disaster History

	Philippines : Cyclone, Hurricane, Typhoon : May 2009 Heavy rains brought by Typhoon Kujira (local name Dante) caused flooding and landslides in Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Albay provinces in Luzon, the largest and northernmost island group in the Philippines, from 3 May. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that just under 250,000 people were affected. At one point evacuation centres were housing over 54,000 people. 27 deaths were confirmed by the NDCC. The storm also caused extensive damage to roads, bridges and agricultural land.
	Philippines : Cyclone, Hurricane, Typhoon : May 2009 Typhoon Chan-hom (local name Emong) struck the northern Philippines island of Luzon on May 7. The National Disaster Coordinating Council reported that 161,000 people were affected across 11 provinces and four regions. As of 11 May the official death toll was 47. The highest number of deaths occurred in Pangasinan province. As of 11 May, 33 villages in the northern part of the island were still flooded, and about 4,100 people remained in 10 evacuation centres.
	Solomon Islands : Flood : February 2009 A number of areas in the Solomon Islands have experienced flooding since late January. North-west Guadalcanal province is thought to have been hardest hit, with over 8,500 people affected, according to provincial authorities.
	Fiji : Flood : January 2009 Heavy rains from 8 January caused severe flooding in a number of areas of Fiji. As of 19 January, 8,500 people were reported to be in evacuation centres. Assessments indicate that damage to food gardens and water supplies in affected areas were the key humanitarian concerns.
	Papua New Guinea : Flood : December 2008 Coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and Pacific Island states including the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia experienced flooding caused by severe sea swells in December 2008. National authorities in Papua New Guinea estimated that as many as 80,000 people may have been affected. A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team was deployed to Papua New Guinea to support the National Disaster Center in responding to the floods.
	Vietnam : Flood : November 2008 Torrential rainfall in early November in northern and central Viet Nam caused severe flooding that left at least 85 people dead, damaged 180,000 houses and devastated over 265,000 hectares of rice and vegetable fields. An estimated 600,000 people were affected.
	Pakistan : Earthquake : October 2008 On 29 October 2008 a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province. The National Disaster Management Agency reported that 166 people were killed. An inter-agency assessment team estimated that 68,200 people were affected and required humanitarian assistance, and that just over 7,500 homes were either completely or partially destroyed. The CERF allocated just under US$2 million to kick-start urgent life-saving interventions in key sectors.
	Lao PDR : Flood : August 2008 Heavy flooding around the Mekong River from August 2008 seriously affected over 200,000 people, damaging infrastructure and crops. The Government and the UN Country Team launched a Joint Appeal for Flood Recovery and Rehabilitation on 20 September, requesting a total of just under US$10 million to address key humanitarian and essential early recovery needs over a period of twelve months. Over US$2 million was contributed from the CERF.
	Pakistan : Flood : August 2008 Unusually heavy monsoon rains in early August 2008 caused severe flooding that affected over 300,000 people in Peshawar District in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Rajanpur District in Punjab Province. In addition to the floods, renewed fighting between the Government and militant groups in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and in Swat District in NWFP in the same month caused significant internal displacement. IASC partners prepared a coordinated response plan requesting US$55 million to meet the needs of those worst-affected. The CERF committed US$6.9 million to projects set out in the response plan.
	Nepal : Flood : August 2008 The Koshi River breached its eastern embankment on 18 August, flooding four Village Development Committees in the district of Sunsari. The Government estimated that between 70,000 and 100,000 people were affected, with at least 40,000 displaced from flood-affected areas. The disaster also led to extensive flooding and the displacement of several million people in Bihar, south of Nepal’s border with India. The IASC Country Team developed a coordinated humanitarian response plan, seeking US$15.5 million. The CERF provided US$3.6 million.
	Philippines : Typhoon Fengshen : June 2008 Typhoon Fengshen, known locally as ‘Frank’, made landfall in the Eastern Visayas Region of the Philippines on 20 June 2008, inducing the southwest monsoon as it moved into the country and causing landslides, flooding and storm surges along the eastern and western seaboards. According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), more than 4 million people were directly affected. As of 31 July, the official death toll stood at 557 with a further 87 listed as missing. The NDCC also reported on 29 June that 173 bodies had been recovered following the sinking of a passenger ferry in the typhoon, with an additional 637 people (of a total of 866 passengers and crew) still unaccounted for.
	Myanmar : Cyclone Nargis : May 2008 Category 3 Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 and 3 May 2008, making landfall in the Ayeyarwady Division and affecting more than 50 townships, mainly in Yangon and Ayeyarwady Divisions. Damage was most severe in the delta region, where the effects of extreme winds were compounded by a 3.6 metre storm surge. As of 24 June 2008, the official death toll stood at 84,537, with 53,836 still missing and 19,359 injured. Some 2.4 million people were severely affected by the cyclone, out an estimated 7.35 million in the affected townships.
	China : Earthquake : May 2008 On 12 May 2008 an 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck 92 km northwest of the Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China. A vast area was affected, including seven other provinces. As of 31 July, the official death toll stood at 69,207, with 18,194 still listed as missing and 374,216 injured. Over 45 million people were affected. Roughly 15 million people were evacuated from their homes, 5 million of whom remained in temporary shelters as of mid-July.
	Sri Lanka : Flood : December 2007 Heavy rains from 16 to 24 December 2007 resulted in progressively large numbers of affected and displaced people in Battacaloa District. By 24 December the affected area had increased significantly, spreading from the northern tip of Battacaloa to cover most of the district’s coast line. The population of the affected districts totalled some 250,000, including more than 40,255 people displaced into 37 welfare centres or schools.
	Bangladesh : Cyclone Sidr : November 2007 Cyclone Sidr tore through southern Bangladesh on 15 November 2007, causing severe material damage in 30 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts. The government reported over 3,300 deaths, with many more missing and injured. Approximately 8.9 million people, or 2 million families, were affected.
	Indonesia : Earthquake : September 2007 An earthquake measuring 8.4 on the Richter scale struck the southern coast of Sumatra, followed by a series of powerful aftershocks. 25 people died and more than 56,000 houses were damaged in Bengkulu, Jambi and West Sumatra provinces.
	Korea, Dem. Rep. : Flood : August 2007 Torrential rains caused severe flooding, land and mudslides in nine provinces and in the capital Pyongyang. The floods destroyed more than 40,000 houses and affected nearly a million people, causing wide-spread damage to food stocks, water supply systems and medical services across the country.
	Vietnam : Flood : August 2007 In August Viet Nam experienced its worst flooding since 1944, with 74 killed, 130 injured and more than 170,000 houses damaged. Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Dak Nong, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces in Central Viet Nam and its Central Highlands were severely affected.
	India : Flood : June 2007 The Government of India estimates that more than 3,000 people died and some 50 million people were affected by flooding during the rainy season this year. The worst hit states were Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Orissa. At least 1.7 million homes were damaged in 241 districts.
	Pakistan : Flood : June 2007 Intense storms and a major cyclone in June and July caused severe flooding in Pakistan, displacing over 300,000 people and affecting more than 2.5 million. Balochistan and Sindh provinces in southern Pakistan were worst affected, with 420 confirmed deaths.
	Nepal : Flood : June 2007 185 people died in Nepal in June, killed mostly by landslides triggered by monsoon rains. Baglung, Gulmi, Baitadi, Darchula and Banke districts were worst-affected, with more than 48,000 homes damaged. Assessments revealed widespread damage to homes and agricultural land.
	China : Flood : June 2007 Continuous flooding between May and August affected 24 provinces in China, where more than 1,100 people died and many more were counted missing. The situation in Southern China was worsened with the arrival of Typhoon Sepat in August.
	Bangladesh : Flood : June 2007 Monsoon rains battered Bangladesh in June, July and August leaving hundreds killed, hundreds of thousands homeless and more than ten million affected. Houses, roads, public buildings and large areas of agricultural land were damaged.
	China : Earthquake : June 2007 Three people died and more than 300 were injured when an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck southwest China's Yunnan Province on 3 June. 120,000 were forced to evacuate their homes and more than 180,000 people are thought to have been affected. Communications, water and power supplies to the county were also affected.
	Solomon Islands : Earthquake : April 2007 An earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale struck 345km northwest of the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara on 2 April. The earthquake created a tsunami that left more than 50 dead and destroyed homes and property, affecting up to 9,000 people.
	Indonesia : Earthquake : March 2007 A strong earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck West Sumatra Province on 6 March, affecting ten districts or municipalities. A total of 67 persons died, at least 800 persons were injured, and 140,000 persons had to leave their homes. Almost 20,000 houses and hundreds of public buildings destroyed.
	Indonesia : Flood : February 2007 Flooding in and around Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, forced more than 400,000 people to evacuate their homes at the beginning of February. Government health officials reported that 200,000 people suffered from flood-related illnesses during the deluge.
	Malaysia : Flood : December 2006 Flooding caused by heavy rains in the southern state of Johor caused the evacuation of 148,000 people during its peak in early January. 18 people died following outbreaks of water-borne diseases including dysentery.
	Indonesia : Flood : December 2006 Flash floods swept over Aceh at the end of December. Up to 300,000 people were displaced from 160 villages in the province. The provincial Government asked the UN to help with coordination and humanitarian assistance and OCHA allocated USD 2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
	Korea, Dem. Rep. : Flood : October 2006 Fierce winds and torrential rains caused tidal waves which struck Kangwon province in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) October 21. More than 1,000 homes were destroyed or damaged and more than 7,000 people left homeless.
	Sri Lanka : Flood : October 2006 Monsoon rains combined with storms to cause severe flooding in Sri Lanka in October. The Sri Lankan National Disaster Management Centre reported that 25 people were killed, two injured and some 333,000 people affected overall.
	Nepal : Flood : August 2006 Western Nepal was affected by severe flooding in August and September. Despite a tense political situation, by mid-September relief assistance had been delivered to more than 45,000 people. The World Food Programme (WFP) delivered 1,300 metric tonnes of rice, lentils, salt and oil to affected regions.
	Philippines : Volcanic Eruption : August 2006 When the most active volcano in the Philippines began emitting lava in mid-July, the government was forced to evacuate some 44,000 people living nearby. Although large numbers were able to return to their homes in September, many areas remained on high alert.
	Thailand : Flood : August 2006 Thailand was affected by floods from a series of depressions and storms in August and September. The flooding affected more than 940,000 people in 34 provinces.
	Korea, Rep. : Flood : July 2006 Torrential rain in mid-July caused severe floods and landslides in large parts of North and South Korea. The governments of both countries reported hundreds dead or missing and tens of thousands of homes destroyed.
	Korea, Dem. Rep. : Flood : July 2006 Torrential rain in mid-July caused severe floods and landslides in large parts of North and South Korea. The governments of both countries reported hundreds dead or missing and tens of thousands of homes destroyed.
	Indonesia : Tsunami : July 2006 An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale followed by a six-foot tsunami struck Indonesia’s West Java province on 17 July. The national disaster management authority reported 637 dead, 543 injured and 165 missing.
	Pakistan : Landslide/Mudslide : July 2006 Heavy monsoon rains caused flash floods and mudslides at the end of July. At least 200 people died and thousands of people who had returned to their homes after the 2005 earthquake were forced to leave their homes again.
	Indonesia : Earthquake : May 2006 A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Java in Indonesia on May 27, killing more than 5,000 people and injuring at least 37,000. Some 140,000 houses in the densely populated Yogyakarta area were completely destroyed and more than 460,000 were seriously
	Thailand : Flood : May 2006 Heavy rains caused severe flash floods and landslides in five provinces in northern Thailand at the end of May. More than 300,000 people were affected and at least 100 died. OCHA provided an emergency cash grant for relief and shelter items.
	Indonesia : Volcanic Eruption : April 2006 Prolonged volcanic activity in Java caused thousands of people near Mount Merapi Volcano in Java to be displaced. The alert level has fluctuated constantly since lava first spilled from the volcano at the beginning of May and some 11,000 people were evacuated at the beginning of June.