STATEMENT ON TROPICAL STORM SENDONG

In the wake of Tropical Storm “Sendong”, internationally known as “Washi”, and the accompanying flash floods that hit northern Mindanao, Philippines, on December 17th, President Benigno Aquino III has declared a state of national calamity. Particularly hard hit were the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro as well as interior communities within the vicinity thereof.  The unprecedented flash floods have thus far claimed over 1000 lives and have left tens of thousands more homeless. The United Nations estimates that nearly half a million people are in need of humanitarian assistance including water, sanitation, shelter, medicine and food.

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) has been working in the Philippines since 2007 and established its Iligan City field office in 2009. Since relief efforts began on December 17th, NP, along with its local partner organisations, has been gathering critical information relating to the needs of the affected communities and relaying that information to international humanitarian organisations. 

NP will continue to operate its programmes in Conflict Prevention and Civilian Protection, taking into account new vulnerabilities arising from this natural disaster including the spread of disease due to overcrowded displacement centres and increased vulnerability of local communities to criminality.

NP would like to extend its deepest condolences to those affected by this tragedy, including the communities in which we work, our local partners and all of our Filipino staff.