Rapid Response Payment Request No. 23/2008

Funds Sent To:

National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) - 20,000

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) - 19,510

Christian Aid (CA) - 19,943

Amount Sent: US$ 59,453

Date: 1 September 2008

Details of Response

Emergency: Philippines - Mindanao Conflict

Date of Emergency: August 5 - present

Implementing Members: National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Christian Aid (CA)

DETAILS OF THE EMERGENCY: Renewed armed clashes between Philippine government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces erupted after the on-going peace talks was temporarily stalled on August 5 following the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Philippine Supreme Court on the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain. As a result, thousands of families from remote villages were forcibly displaced in three (3) regions in Southern Philippines namely Regions X-Northern Mindanao, XII-SOCCSKSARGEN and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

On August 10, the heightened hostilities resulted to the increased number of internally displaced persons from the following municipalities of North Cotabato: Aleosan, Midsayap, Pikit, Tulunan and Libungan. It also affected the municipalities of Northern Kabuntalan and Sultan Kudarat in the province of Shariff Kabunsuan and Sumisip and Tipo-tipo in Basilan. A week after the atrocities in North Cotabato, armed elements allegedly from the MILF simultaneously attacked some villages in the provinces of Lanao del Norte (Region 10), South Cotabato and Sarangani (Region 12) and Lanao del Sur and Basilan (ARMM).

As early as August 12, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) monitored 128,819 evacuees from the towns of Aleosan, Midsayap, Pikit, Tulunan and Libungan in North Cotabato. NDCC Executive Director Glenn Rabonza said a total of 77,308 residents were evacuated into 43 evacuation centers while the rest were either staying at places outside of the evacuation centers or living with their relatives.

As of August 19, NDCC reported that about 165,000 displaced individuals or 24,623 families came from 64 villages in nine towns of the three provinces severely affected by the armed hostilities. The resurgence of armed conflict in Mindanao has so far claimed nine (9) lives including five (5) civilians, wounded 22 others and left 133 houses burned. The NDCC also reported that diseases begun to spread in evacuation centers in Pikit and Libungan towns in North Cotabato. These include fever and cough, headaches, diarrhea, acute bronchitis, viral influenza and urinary tract infections.

In Lanao del Norte province, the NDCC reported that 36,668 persons were displaced when fighting intensified on August 18, of which 17,807 are housed in evacuation centers while 18,861 are staying with relatives. A total of 14,288 evacuees are in Lanao del Norte province. Additional 9,927 evacuees from the province sought refuge in Ozamiz City, all of whom were from Kolambugan town. The NDCC also reported of evacuees in Kalamsig town in Sultan Kudarat province, Maasim town in Sarangani province and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato province.

The latest report of NDCC as of August 27 placed the number of internally displaced persons at 362,475 or 74,581 families in several provinces of affected Regions 10, 12 and ARMM. Please refer to the table below for the detailed statistics of displaced individuals per province:

Region-Province / No. of Affected Families / No. of Affected Persons / No. of Affected Villages

Region 12 / 25,282 / 125,532 / 78

North Cotabato / 21,299 / 106,717 / 63

Sarangani / 1,613 / 8,065 / 12

South Cotabato / 400 / 900 / 1

Sultan Kudarat / 1,970 / 9,850 / 2

ARMM / 36,126 / 181,167 / 61

Basilan / 3,965 / 19,825 / 4

Lanao del Sur / 9,368 / 47,388 / 2

Maguindanao / 12,776 / 63,869 / 38

Shariff Kabunsuan / 10,017 / 50,085 / 17

Region 10 / 13,173 / 55,776 / 44

Lanao del Norte / 13,173 / 55,776 / 44

Grand Total: 74,581 / 362,475 / 183

Source: NDCC Situation Report No. 20 (August 27, 2008)

This on-going human-made calamity is expected to last for several weeks or a couple of months or so until a truce shall have been negotiated between the warring forces.

ACTIONS TO DATE AND EMERGENCY NEEDS

There are three ACT members with experience, history and partners working in this region: the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and Christian Aid (CA). The three members are coordinating their response so as not to overlap.

At the start of the evacuation of communities, the NCCP member churches in the affected areas opened their doors to families who sought for refuge. To support the needs of these families, local churches pooled together whatever resources they have such as rice, noodles, canned goods, used clothing and sleeping paraphernalia. The members of the Cotabato Regional Ecumenical Council (COREC) as well as other member churches in the affected areas conducted their damage and needs assessment.

The Municipal and Provincial Disaster Coordinating Councils have extended relief (food items) and temporary shelter assistance to the affected families. However, the situation is expected to escalate, hence, external assistance is needed.

Based on the report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, several INGO's and UN Agencies has provided assistance/services to the evacuees particularly food and non-food items. (Act for Peace and World Vision have given food items and sacks of rice to the affected families.) The NDCC however, emphasized the need for continuing assistance particularly for food, non-food items and medicines.

PROPOSED EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

- OBJECTIVES OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

NCCP: To provide relief assistance to at least 2,000 displaced families in North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces severely affected by the on-going armed hostilities. Assistance shall consist of food packages and non-food relief such as medicines and hygiene kit.

LWR: Provision of emergency relief assistance of non-food items for 2,251 families in 10 barangays in municipality of Maasim, Sarangani Province. (Through this RRF, LWR will reach 1,126 affected families of the target 2,251 families. While the other 1,125 affected families will be covered/supported directly by Lutheran World Relief.)

CA: Provision of culturally appropriate food items to 1,300 internally displaced Maranao households.

- TARGET POPULATIONS:

NCCP: The emergency response is mainly directed at the displaced families and evacuees from the villages affected by the armed hostilities particularly in North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces. The target beneficiary of the relief assistance shall be at least 2,000 displaced families housed in various evacuation centers and those who opted to stay with their relatives and in NCCP member churches located in the towns of Pikit, Midsayap, Aleosan, Libungan and North Kabuntalan.

LWR: Through its local partner SPECTRUM, LWR will work on the following criteria for selection of families:

 Poorest of the poor who have been affected by the conflict

 Families suffering severe loss (houses burned with homeless individuals/families)

 Landless, marginal farmers affected by the conflict

 Preferential treatment will be given to the following in the selection process of female-headed households, women and widows, children-girls in particular, the elderly, people with disabilities and indigenous and tribal communities

The potential beneficiaries will be selected from the emergency rapid assessment survey in coordination with SPECTRUM members, local barangay officials, local community leaders, and local government unit officials.

(For the detailed table, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.)

A total of 2,251 affected families with 10,905 dependents (children, men and women) are the proposed beneficiaries for the relief assistance. These beneficiaries reside in the 11 Barangays (Daliao, Kanalo, Poblacion, Nomoh, Colon, Bales, Lumasal, Kablacan, Malbang, Lumatil and Pananag) affected by the hostilities. The affected families and their dependents are housed in 23 evacuation centers with no food, drinking water, beddings nor kitchen utensils for their use.

CA: Target beneficiaries will be the 1300 primarily Maranao households in the conflict affected areas who have been displaced and have evacuated (or are planning to evacuate) to Marawi City (from Munai and neighbouring municipalities), Ozamis City (from Kolambugan) and Iligan City (from Linamon and Kausawagan) (NCCP target areas are not covered by CA partners.)

- PROPOSED ASSISTANCE:

NCCP: The relief assistance shall be distributed to at least 2,000 displaced families who have been identified by the COREC in the affected areas. The assistance shall consist of food packages which include rice (8kg/family), canned goods (3 pcs/bag), cooking oil (1 pint/bag), dried fish (1/2 kilo/bag), sugar (1/2 kilo/bag), legumes (1/2 kilo/bag) and other food items, as well as non-food assistance like medicines and hygiene kit. Special attention will be given to women, children and those with special needs. Hygiene kit (ace towel, bath soap, laundry soap, toothbrush and toothpaste) will also be distributed to selected 300 families.

LWR: The project will provide immediate relief assistance for the 2,251(men, women and children) of the 3,308 families victims of harassment, arson and armed attack by the MILF ground commanders. The relief assistance will be composed of non-food items (sanitized water container, sleeping mats, blankets, and kitchenware). As much as possible, the immediate relief assistance will adhere to Sphere Minimum Standards of non-food items.

CA: It is planned that Christian Aid and its partners will provide the following food items to 1300 families: upland rice, canned goods, vitamin-enriched noodles ore legumes/vegetables/rootcrops, dried fish, sweet yams, sugar, milk, coffee, salt and cooking oil.

- IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS:

NCCP: The implementation of the Rapid Response will be implemented through the Cotabato Regional Ecumenical Council (COREC), a regional formation of NCCP member churches in the Cotabato Provinces and the Ecumenical Mission for Peace and Development (EMPD), a newly formed ecumenical formation of church and lay people to provide assistance to internally displaced and communities. The NCCP secretariat will assist the and oversee the implementation of the mergency assistance.

LWR: LWR will work with its local partner SPECTRUM and in partnership with Peace and Equity Foundation and local government units. A cooperation of agreement will be issued to the local partner. SPECTRUM and its member organizations and volunteers will be in-charged in the distribution and logistical set-up in the area. The SPECTRUM member organizations shall work with barangay local government units in identifying and validating beneficiaries in 23 evacuation centers in 10 barangays.

CA: Christian Aid will coordinate and contact the National Food Authority (NFA) to facilitate the purchase of upland rice, if any, at a socialized price and this can be withdrawn from a regional FNA warehouse in Mindanao or from NFA warehouse in Manila and shipped to Mindanao. Christian Aid Rapid Response and Assessment Team (CARRAT) comprising of Christen Aid staff and partner' staff will be conducting an on-ground assessment of the area that will be assisted. The CARRAT members were trained on rapid needs assessment as part of the preparedness measures. Coordination will be established with the local doctors and government health authorities to provide necessary treatments for the sick people and to address the health needs of the community members.

- COORDINATION:

NCCP: The NCCP as a duly registered, accredited and licensed social welfare agency by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) coordinates with the local disaster coordinating councils especially on the status of evacuation centers and needs of evacuees. NCCP is in contact with all ACT members (LWR and Christian Aid) and coordinating its response accordingly.

LWR: LWR partner SPECTRUM is coordinating it's response it's members and other donors; Member NGOs (Mahintana Foundation, OND HESED Foundation and RD Foundation) have turned over to the local government unit of Maasim relief assistance for the evacuees amounting to P60,000.00 (food items and medicines for common ailments) last August 22, 2008. SPECTRUM is also currently negotiating an additional P250,000.00 ($5,555) relief assistance from the Peace and Equity Foundation. Coordination with MDCC/MSWDO regarding relief assistance shall also be done by LWR and its local partner. LWR also in contact with Christian Aid and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and agreed to work in each focus areas to avoid overlap and duplication in humanitarian areas of operations in Mindanao.

CA: Coordination will be established with the local doctors and government health authorities to provide necessary treatments for the sick people and to address the health needs of the community members. Christian Aid staff are in contact with the NCCP and LWR. As part of this, efforts are made not to duplicate the relief interventions.

Regular monitoring, coordination and information sharing shall be done among the three ACT members. Project assessment shall be done two weeks after the implementation and look on the possibility if a major appeal is needed given the current armed conflict that raised alarm on the increasing number of human casualties.

- COMMUNICATIONS:

NCCP: The Office of Communications and Research (OCR) of the NCCP is in-charge of the internal and external communications of the Council e.g NCCP website and newsletter.

LWR: LWR sits as the secretariat of Mindanao International NGOs (MINGOs). Under the Disaster Response TWG of MINGOs which Oxfam International as the lead organization (members: Save The Children and LWR) work closely with Mindanao Emergency Response Network and sharing of information provided among INGO members.

- PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD:

For all three ACT members, the rapid response shall be implemented within a period of one month.

Relief distribution shall be done in partnership with the NCCP member-churches under COREC and EMPD. The NCCP secretariat shall assist the local partners and oversee all the phases of project implementation (assessment, procurement, warehousing, distribution, monitoring, etc.) of the emergency assistance.

LWR and its local partner will explore relation with other groups/agencies, INGOs and local stakeholders to tap support and cooperation of potential allies to strengthen coordination between and among CSOs, LGUs and government agencies and other service providers in the area. LWR staff will closely monitor the implementation of the relief operation.

Monitoring on the objective condition in Mindanao including the ongoing peace process shall be done to be able to track the needs for further relief assistance. Midway in the implementation of the Rapid Response, the three organizations-NCCP, CA and LWR will meet again to discuss needs for further intervention.

BUDGET

NCCP: US$ 20,000

LWR: US$ 19,510

CA: US$ 19,943

TOTAL: US$ 59,453

(For the detailed budgets, kindly visit the ACT site. Thank you.)

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$ 59,453 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment. Should there be an appeal for this emergency, the RRF payment will be considered as an advance.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.