Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (September 14-20, 2021) – Philippines

PHILIPPINES
According to the latest government report, around 18,000 people remain displaced in areas affected by the typhoon, with at least 16,500 people internally displaced or hosted by relatives / friends while the rest are in 55 evacuation centers. Those responsible for the disaster confirmed that 20 people died while 60 were injured by torrential rains and destructive winds from the typhoons. At least 18,300 houses were damaged, of which 1,065 were destroyed according to appraisal reports, with agricultural losses estimated at $ 31 million. Following the impact of Typhoon Chanthu which made landfall as a Category 4 typhoon (215 km / h winds) on September 11, the provincial government of Batanes declared a “state of calamity” to access additional funds to accelerate relief and rehabilitation. efforts.
While response operations remain within the reach of local and national governments, IOM has provided 500 tarpaulins to support shelter assistance and WFP is transporting family food packages to families in eastern Samar.
INDONESIA
An exchange of fire between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) – the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) and the Indonesian Army and Police (TNI) took place in the Kiwirok sub-district. , in the Bintang Mountain regency of Papua on September 13. TPNPB forces attacked a community health center, killed one health worker and injured four others while another health worker went missing. The group also reportedly burned down public buildings, including a government office, a bank, a health center, a school and a market in the sub-district. There is no immediate report of displacement of people as a result of the incident. However, a dozen doctors from some districts in the interior of Papua were evacuated to Jayapura, the provincial capital, to avoid further casualties. Provincial and local governments are trying to rectify the situation and restart public services. The Indonesia Humanitarian Forum (HFI), a member of the country humanitarian team which consists of 18 faith-based humanitarian institutions, issued a statement of concern over this incident and urged all parties to provide protection to aid and health workers. .
PHILIPPINES
Eight people were injured by an improvised explosive device that exploded during a volleyball match in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao province, on September 19. According to the mayor of the city, most of the victims belong to the LGBTQ + community.
Military and local officials identified Islamic freedom fighters in Bangsamoro as the origin of the attack. The Bangsamoro Regional Government’s Ministry of Social Services and Development tasked its GBV team to investigate the incident.
MYANMAR
The humanitarian situation in the Sagaing region remains difficult, with armed clashes between the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and Local People’s Defense Forces (PDF) reported in several areas, resulting in the displacement of some 18,600 people from townships of Kalay, Kani and Myaung. between September 7 and 10. In the meantime, around 45,000 people, displaced since September 4 in the Sagaing region, are said to have returned to their villages of origin between September 8 and 13. In the Magway region, clashes between the MAF and PDF were reported in Gangaw, Pauk and Saw townships between September 10 and 12, and around 6,250 people were displaced for the second time since May. 12,000 people have now been internally displaced within Magway since May, including 6,000 who had already been displaced as a result of previous MAF-PDF clashes from Chin to Pauk and Saw Townships. An estimated 12,000 people also remain displaced in Chin State, while clashes have intensified in some counties. Army of Arakan.
Humanitarian organizations strive to reach displaced people with assistance and protection services; however, access and other operational challenges complicate this work.