FOLLOWING their government’s earlier decision to provide $13 million (approximately P663 million) in disaster-relief assistance for the implementation of humanitarian activities benefiting survivors of Typhoon “Odette” (international name Rai), Japanese officials in New York exchanged a note verbale with representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on January 20.
According to its embassy in Manila, the UN agency will receive $1.6 million for the “Typhoon Rai Emergency Response” project which will support 51,000 persons in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Southern Leyte.
UNICEF will prioritize increased access to safe water and sanitation facilities such as latrines and handwashing facilities, distribution of water and hygiene supplies, as well as the promotion of health and hygiene practices—including Covid-19 infection prevention and control.
This initiative, the embassy said, will provide quick, integrated humanitarian aid and protection to children and families with most urgent needs, as well as restore access to critical services promoting rapid recovery of affected communities.
With UNOCHA, UNHCR
JAPANESE government officials in Geneva, Switzerland also reciprocated notes verbale with representatives of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on January 14 and 17, respectively.
The UNOCHA will receive $200,000 for the “Strengthening humanitarian coordination, monitoring and advocacy in the Typhoon Rai response in the Philippines” project. This will enable smooth interagency coordination among the office’s staff with more than 53 international and national operational partners on the ground for an effective and principled emergency response which will benefit 530,000 affected people.
For its part, the UNHCR will have $170,000 for the “Emergency Response to Typhoon Rai in Region 13 (Caraga)” project, which will allow for the distribution of 1,000 hygiene kits, 1,000 solar lamps, 1,000 plastic sheeting, and 300 tarpaulins to 1,000 households in severely affected areas. Said office will also implement four quick-impact projects which will augur well for 3,000 households in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, as well as provide technical aid to the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Caraga Regional Office indirectly benefiting 51,000 displaced families.
Likewise on January 17, Japanese government officials in Geneva traded notes verbale with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the “Shelter, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Health Response to Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) in Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga Regions” undertaking, which is also part of the $13-million Emergency Grant Aid.
The IOM will receive $4.2 million to fund the following:
- Shelter repair kits to be distributed to 2,420 households, for a total of 12,100 individuals, and training sessions on “Build Back Safer” construction techniques for 3,682 community members, including 2,420 household beneficiaries, to facilitate self-recovery and improved access to safer living spaces;
- CCCM assistance for 4,000 internally displaced persons at 20 evacuation centers, to provide safer and more dignified living conditions;
- Operation of mobile health clinics for 90 communities to improve primary health-care access;
- Capacity building for 7,400 persons, including orientation on peer support for 600 community heads, psychological first-aid sessions for 800 frontliners as well as mental health and psychosocial support sessions for 6,000 community members;
- Emergency medical equipment for four health facilities, and emergency health kits for 200 communities.
- IOM’s project partnership with the Catholic Relief Services and CARE Philippines will indirectly benefit an estimated total of 64,681 individuals.
Also with IFRC
A NOTE verbale with representatives of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was also swapped on January 14.
The federation will receive $1.83 million for “Typhoon Rai (Odette) Emergency Operation in the Philippines,” which will be utilized to support persons affected in Surigao del Norte, Bohol, Southern Leyte and Palawan. Beneficiaries will be given emergency shelter, food and essential nonfood items “to alleviate suffering and uphold [their] dignity.”
Other provisions by the IFRC will cover emergency health assistance, including medical aid via the Philippine Red Cross’ emergency medical unit, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as essential Covid-19 prevention and protection services.
This initiative, according to the embassy, will provide and meet the survivors’ immediate needs in a safe and dignified manner, to help them self-recover from the crisis in a sustainable way, and strengthen their resilience to shocks from untoward natural events.