Humanitarian community launches an action plan for Mindanao, the Philippines, for US$38 million

(Manila/New York, 12 December 2011): United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for the Philippines Jacqui Badcock, on behalf of international and national humanitarian organizations, today called for US$38 million to support the Government to provide urgent humanitarian aid to 680,000 people in central Mindanao.

New displacements, both short-term and long-term, continue to occur in Mindanao as a result of sporadic armed fighting exacerbated by severe flooding caused by heavy seasonal rains. The Philippine Humanitarian Country Team, led by Ms. Badcock and supported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, today launched the Philippines (Mindanao) Humanitarian Action Plan 2012 to provide emergency relief, protection and livelihood support to the vulnerable people affected by conflict and natural disasters.

“The situation remains fragile, and the people continue to live in fear and uncertainty,” said Ms. Badcock. “Our goal is to help them rebuild their lives as quickly as possible.”

The 2012 action plan seeks $38 million for 30 projects to cover the next 12 months. Eight UN agencies, an international organization, and 10 non-governmental organizations have proposed these projects in partnership with government counterparts and more than 50 aid organizations.

As of 11 December, the 2011 action plan was 54 per cent funded, having received $18 million out of the $33 million requested. Slow and imbalanced funding across 10 key sectors has been a concern, with Early Recovery receiving no funding at all.

“We have strengthened our needs assessment and analysis, and expanded programmatic and geographic areas where organizations work more cohesively,” said Ms. Badcock, adding that “this will help level the imbalances and ensure a more seamless response to the complex needs of the people in Mindanao.” She reiterated that “early and sustained donor funding is critical to the success of this approach.”

The 2012 action plan is part of the global Consolidated Appeal, which will be launched on 14 December in Geneva by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos.

The 2012 action plan was launched this afternoon in the presence of senior government officials from the national government and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao; the diplomatic corps; and the humanitarian community. For more information: https://reliefweb.int/node/460759