IOM and the United Nations Country Team today responded to the
Philippine Government’s request for international support to
help victims of Tropical Storm Ketsana with the launch in Manila of
a Flash Funding Appeal to international donors for US$74 million.

The tropical storm, which swept across Metro Manila and parts of
Central Luzon on Saturday, 26 September, brought torrential rain
and caused widespread devastation and flooding. According to the
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), 69,404 families
remain in evacuation centers as of 6 October 2009.

IOM has been designated the lead agency for the Camp
Coordination and Camp Management/Non Food Items (CCCM/NFI) cluster
– the grouping of agencies that will work in close
coordination with the government to help victims in these specific
areas of the relief effort.

IOM has proposed two projects with a total funding requirement
of USD 8.66 million.

The first project will address camp coordination and camp
management and will support the Government's efforts to organize
and coordinate activities in evacuation centers and other
displacement sites.

The second project will provide emergency shelter support and
non-food relief items. It will help families repair their damaged
homes and replace some of the essential items that they lost in the
storm.

"IOM will enhance to the Philippine Government's ability to
manage evacuation centers and coordinate relief activities in areas
hardest hit by the tropical storm," says IOM Regional
Representative for East Asia, Charles Harns.

"Our liaison teams are already deployed in  affected areas
to ensure that relief items are delivered to the areas and groups
in greatest need," he adds.

The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the European
Commission (ECHO), and USAID (OFDA) have already committed nearly
US$1.9 million to IOM's Ketsana relief efforts. This funding will
allow IOM to provide assistance to some 37,000 families over the
next three months.