HIGHLIGHTS
Increased safety and security concerns for Sendong affected communities in Northern Mindanao
Commitments by the Government, private sector and foreign donations to build 11,300 permanent houses in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan
In central Mindanao, five explosions killed two and wounded another 11 persons
Washi overview
Twelve weeks after the storm, shelter needs could extend the emergency phase
Tropical Storm Washi, known locally as Sendong, struck northern Mindanao on 17 December 2011. Since then, the Government and national and international aid agencies have been working together in providing life-saving assistance to those affected.
From the start of the emergency, the provision of adequate shelter has been the main challenge of the response. While some progress has been made in identifying solutions for permanent housing, the availability of land for transitional shelter sites is still a key challenge. Not addressing shelter issues promptly is likely to protract the emergency phase and increase the overall vulnerability of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The management of Evacuation Centers (ECs) and transitional sites is a related and ongoing concern. The past two weeks have seen a growing number of incidents in the ECs, transitional camps and IDP-based communities. The Government and the humanitarian community are working closely with the IDPs, and all share a sense of urgency to improve security and safety.
The Government and aid agencies also continue to support local communities through the implementation of cash-for-work and food-for-work schemes. Rebuilding livelihoods through programmes which create income-generating opportunities continues to be a priority in the response.