An IOM team in the typhoon-hit Bicol region of the central
Philippines has started to deliver emergency shelter and non-food
items to an estimated 5,000 households in the hardest hit
provinces.

The logistics operation, funded with $250,000 from the UN
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), will complement the
Philippine government’s efforts to bring relief to the region
struck by Typhoon Reming on November 30th.

Reming, also known as Durian, swept through the Bicol provinces
of Catanduanes, Albay, and Camarines Sur leaving some 1,400 people
dead or missing and 2,000 injured. As many as 100,000 people were
displaced and many people in the region are still without food,
water and electricity.

"IOM has established an operations hub in Legaspi and we are
working closely with national and local government and humanitarian
agencies to coordinate our response," said IOM Regional
Representative Bruce Reed.

"We are also assessing the condition of the displaced population
to identify areas where assistance is needed most urgently. A
review of the health situation is underway and we are bringing in a
camp management expert to assess shelter options for people made
homeless by the typhoon," said Reed, who is based in Manila.

Initial assessments conducted by the UN following the typhoon
identified a need for food and non-food items including sleeping
mats, blankets and mosquito nets; drinking water; water
purification tablets and systems; medicine and medical kits for
children and adults; emergency shelter in the form of individual
household tents; and power generator sets to support lifeline
services in health centers.

IOM is planning to appeal to international donors for an
additional US$ 6 million to provide emergency relief for another
95,000 internally-displaced people in the Bicol region.

For more information, please contact:

Ruffy L. Villanueva

IOM Manila

Tel: +63.2.8481260-63

Mobile: +63.918.4211786

E-mail: "mailto:rvillanueva@iom.int">rvillanueva@iom.int