Deputy humanitarian chief completes visit to the Philippines

(Manila/New York, 23 November 2011): Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Catherine Bragg completed her visit to the Philippines today.

“I could see tangible progress made in helping thousands of people affected by the 2008 conflict, successive clan violence, and by the flooding that swept through central Mindanao in 2011,” noted Ms. Bragg. “I am concerned, however, by the impact of cycles of displacement. The needs of vulnerable people in Mindanao are complex, and we must continue to address them through a concerted effort.”

During her visit, Ms. Bragg met with villagers displaced in North Cotabato, who were first displaced by armed conflict and then affected by floods in June this year. They described the difficult living conditions, particularly as a result of insecurity. Most of them were farmers, and expressed their need to make a living after losing the land to till, while they wait for the right conditions to return.

“I call on all parties to conflict to spare people from the effects of violence,” Ms. Bragg said. “The rights of the displaced, and others affected by conflict, must be respected.”

Aid agencies, together with the local authorities in Mindanao, estimate that nearly 700,000 people are still in dire need of humanitarian relief, protection and livelihood support in central Mindanao, particularly in conflict- and flood-affected areas. Many more continue to live in fear and insecurity. A number of humanitarian agencies working in key sectors such as health, water and sanitation and camp management had to reduce their services due to lack of funding. Ms. Bragg met with the diplomatic community and called for sustained and increased support, as the UN and its partners prepare to launch a humanitarian action plan for 2012 requesting US$38 million.

In June this year, nearly 860,000 people in Mindanao were affected by severe flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains. At the request of the Government, aid agencies provided emergency relief to complement national efforts. Humanitarian organizations were also instrumental in complementing the national response to typhoons Nesat and Nalage (locally known as Pedirng and Quiel) when more than 4 million people in northern and central Luzon were affected.

Ms. Bragg noted the close collaboration between aid agencies and Government authorities in responding to natural disasters in Mindanao and elsewhere in the Philippines. In her meetings with representatives from the Government, she emphasized that the UN always stands ready to support national efforts to respond to emergencies, and stated that “together, we must remain vigilant and continue to invest in preparedness to ensure that life-saving services can be delivered during emergencies.”