RAPID needs assessment:
Panay island assessment 12-14 Nov
Haiyan Typhoon
Map of assessment area:
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Highlights
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Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan made landfall in Panay just south of Concepcion in Iloilo province
on 8th of November at midday. Haiyan crossed the inlands of Capiz and Aklan and through
northern Antique. The typhoon stayed for about four hours in each location.
The worst affected area is the north east coast of Panay, around the municipality of Estancia,
Iloilo. There were sea water surges of 6-9 meters causing massive destruction and confirmed
death tolls above one hundred, which is likely to continue to rise while remoter barangays are
accessed and assessed.
There is also massive damage in the inland due to high winds where Haiyan passed, with a
rough estimation of 80% of houses with complete or partial damaged within a range of 20 km
south and north from the pass way, and most electric lines has collapsed. Inland communities
here however seem to be very resilient, families have moved back to their homes to
reconstruct, markets are active, and death toll where considerably lower.
As per data from the Regional DRR and Management Council VI on Nov 14, there were
154,243 demolished houses and 168,399 partially damaged. As per visual inspections, this
figure is reasonably reliable. Official death toll 14 Nov was 113 persons, but that figure will
most certainly increase.
Immediate lifesaving interventions recommended in worst affected area are Shelter, Food
and WASH. Reestablishment of health posts and community health is also a priority. Support
will be needed to rehabilitate schools and to create CFS.
Methodology:
Two days assessment jointly with an ECHO health expert. We followed the highway starting in
Kalibo, going to the east towards the direction that Haiyan came. Yellow marks on the map above
showed the communities and municipalities where we made interviews. We interviewed
representatives from the DRR Management Councils in the three provinces, municipal leaders in Pilar
and Estancia and Regional DRR and Management Council in Iloilo. We selected a number of sites to
do interviews based on where we could see damages though visual inspection, reports from local
government on worst affected areas and hydro-meteorological data, including Kalibo, Batan, Roxas
City, Pilar, Estancia and Concepcion. Apart from meetings, we conducted interviews and spontaneous
group discussions with community members, ensuring a blend of boys, girls, women and men.
Secondary data is mainly from provincial government and GDACs.
1. General information:
Name and the nature of the disaster
Date/s on which the rapid needs assessment
was done.
Date on which the rapid needs assessment
report is being written.
Full name, job title, e-mail and phone
number of the team leader/ person writing
the report.
Hayian – RNA of Panay island
12-14 Nov
15 Nov
Olle Castell
Haiyan Emergency Team Health Expert
+46-768646274
olle.castell@plan-international.org
Mike Reynaldo
Sponsorship Manager, Plan Philippines
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Mike.reynaldo@plan-international.org
2. Situation Overview
2.1 What is the nature and intensity of the emergency?
 Typhone Haiyan made landfall just south of Concepcion in Iloilo province on 8th of
November at midday. Haiyan crossed the hilly inlands of Capiz and Aklan and went
out through northern Antique. It took about four hours for the Typhoon to pass the
island.
 In North East coast of Panay, around the municipality of Estancia, Iloilo there were
sea water surges of 6-9 meters causing massive destruction. Reportedly, the impact in
the coastal barangays, including islands were massive, although not yet fully assessed.
High numbers of casualties due to drowning in these communities confirms sea water
surge.
 There is also massive damage in the inland due to high winds where Haiyan passed,
with a rough estimation of 80% of houses with complete or partial damaged within a
range of 20 km south and north from the pass way, and most electric lines has
collapsed. Inland communities here however seem to be very resilient, families have
moved back to their homes to reconstruct, markets are active, and death toll where
considerably lower.
2.2 What is the geographical extent/spread of the affected area - villages, districts etc?
This rapid assessment covers only the provinces of Aklan, Capiz, and Iloilo, and we were
only able to visit a selection of municipalities.
This assessment concludes that the most devastating human impact has been in the coastal
areas of the north east coast due to sea water surge. These are in the coastal barangays in
Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, and Panay municipalities in Capiz; and in Carles,
Estancia, Batad, San Dionisio and Concepcion municipalities in Iloilo, particularly the
island barangays outside.
2.3 How many people are affected?
According to provincial government figures 12-13 Nov:
Province
Tot Pop
Families
Affected
Pop
Demolished Partially
houses
damages
houses
Casualties*
Aklan
Antique
Capiz
Guimaras
Iloilo
TOTAL
535,725
546,031
719,685
162,943
1,805,576
3,769,960
91,714
23,682
114,844
456
175,689
406,385
420,668
100,716
544,412
2,062
744,302
1,812,160
37,322
10,917
23,611
2
71,226
143,078
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10
50
0
42
113
44,417
22,698
3,994
13
53,625
124,747
*The figure for northern district off Iloilo where damages was largest was not updated on Nov 14. Report from
the Municipal Mayor of Estancia on Nov 13 confirmed 85 dead persons only in that municipality, most of which
were fishermen from other islands who died when trying to protect their boats from the storm surge. Also, the
Municipal DRR and Management office said that they have not yet been able to get reliable information from all
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island barangays which are known to be severely affected.
This assessment has not been able to verify these figures, but it is the impression that
numbers of affected personas and damaged houses correspond to the overall impression.
2.4 How many children are affected?
About 40% of the population on the island are children.
3. Needs
3.1 What are the specific needs of children?
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 List life-saving needs
In north east coastal area including the municipalities of Pontevedra, President Roxas,
Pilar and Panay in Capiz, and Estancia, Carles, San Dionisio, and Concepcion in
Iloilo. Particularily the most vulnerable groups who have completely lost their homes
in storm surges and now stay in schools.
Immedeate lifesaving needs for:
Shelter: The majority of houses has been demolished or severely damaged. Most
people are returning to their homes, but lack building materiel and tarpaulins to build
temporary shelters.
WASH: Water supply seem to be functioning in the towns, subject to temporary low
pressure due to shortage of electricity. In barangays most people use wells.
Food: Food shortage is present and increasing. Although markets are active and have
food, many people don’t have money to buy. Many are traditionally dependent on
their own food production and fishing for food.
Health: Restoration and equipping of health posts including maternal, newborn and
child supplies. We made a stop in a school in Pilar Municipality, where 220 families
still lived. There were at least two mothers in the third trimester who had not received
any clean delivery kits, and one of them seemed to be chronically ill. Although there
were reportedly a health post nearby, the midwife only come once a weak, and the
health post could not be visited as the road was blocked by fallen trees.
 List child protection and protection needs
Many children were found begging for money along the road. Most men were busy
repairing their houses, or out fishing. Women busy taking care of their small children
and managing the household. Children clearly had no safe space for play and
development, but were moving around in the debris. Likely to be a high need for
psychosocial support to children.
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List education needs
Rehabilitation of school buildings. About 75% of the schools along the road in the
northern part of the island were damaged, principally due to damages of roof and
fallen trees. About of 50% those damaged were in need for major rehabilitation. The
other 50% has minor damages that can probably be repaired by teachers and parents
within a few weeks period so that education can start again; if there will be a supply
of metal sheets. The barangays in the hilly inland area and closer to the eastern coast
seem to have suffered the strongest winds. It is highly recommended to use screws
instead of needles and other building techniques to make building more resilient for
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the future. At the time of the assessment almost all schools where left empty.
Probably teachers were home taking care of their own families.
In Aklan and Capiz, it was reported by various sources that schools are expected to reopen on Monday18 Nov. Most schools will however not be rehabilitated by then, so
in many barangays it is unlikely that this can happen.
3.2 How does this emergency affect livelihoods and what are the livelihood needs?
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Agricultural sector is affected. Rice had just been harvested in most farmland, so no
major impact.
Coconut tree plantations represent an important extra income for many rice farmers
on the northern island. An estimation of 25 % of coconut trees where demolished. It
takes approximately 10 years for a coconut tree to deliver coconuts.
All banana plants on the northern part of the island have been wasted, but will
probably grow back soon again. Mainly for household use.
Sugar cane industry important in central and southern Iloilo. No major damages seen.
Fishing and aquaculture important industry in northern sea side. No damages reported
or revealed in visual inspections. Some fishing men have probably lost their boats, but
this could not be confirmed by this assessment.
People are lining up at money transfer offices in towns to get cash transactions from
relatives abroad.
3.3 How does this emergency affect access to basic services (e.g. health care) and goods (e.g.
food) and what are the needs?
Healthcare
 Secondary and tertiary medical facilities seem to be intact and well managed. We
visited the provincial hospital in Roxas City, which is burdened by a high patient load,
but according to the hospital director only to a limited extent because of Haiyan. It is
a 100-bed facility but during the visit, there were 224 patients, many of them staying
in the hallways for lack of rooms and beds. They only have one generator that is now
running 24/7 as the electric supply is cut out, and if that one fail there will be a
difficult situation.
 Only one PHC were inspected from the outside, with minor damages to the roof. We
were not able to speak to the provincial public health department.
Food
 Provincial governments are distributing rice through municipalities and the barangay
committees. Food supply is however obviously insufficient. Women interviewed in
evacuation center in Pilar reported that they have only been eating one proper meal
per day.
 We observed a group of displaced adult women in an assessment center in Estancia
fighting over a package of cookies that a passing car handed out from the window. It
was also noted that the storekeeper of a department store in Estancia has put up a
fence in front of his shop, and that he personally inspected every person who wanted
to enter his shop, denying entrance of some people.
 Local markets in towns are active and with adequate food supply.
Shelter
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According to the regional DRR and Management Council in Region VI, an estimation
of 154,243 houses has been demolished, and 168,399 damaged. Most people in the
rural areas live in traditional nipa bamboo houses. This is a simple construction made
of bamboo and palm leaves. Almost all nipa houses that we passed in the northern
part of the island were damaged. However, the vast majority of people have returned
to their houses, or what remains of them, to set up temporary shelters of recycled
building materiel. The provincial governments have distributed tarpaulins to some
households, but are not able to cover all damaged households. People living in nipa
huts are used to rebuild the roof every third year, a work that is often done by
household members.
3.4 How does this emergency affect information system and services, media and
communication (e.g. TV, mobile phone, radio)? What are the needs related to this?
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As almost all power lines along the pass way of Haiyan has fallen, there is no power
supply apart from those who have generators.
People can charge cell phones in private stores in towns for approx. 0,5 USD.
Cellphone coverage good in all areas for SMART operators, apart from shadow
behind a few hilltops. There is no phone coverage in Estancia. A satellite phone was
made available so that relatives from outside Estancia can get in touch.
Most people do normally listen to radio.
4. Coverage and Gaps analysis
4.1 What proportion/percentage of the affected population is being reached by humanitarian
interventions?
 National Level: Military has been providing logistical support to distribute relief
goods, including air lifts.
 Regional level: An incident command center has been set up at the airport in Iloilo,
where military and the Office of Civil Defense are working jointly.
 Provincial level: Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan DRR and Management Councils all have set
up logistical hubs from where they distribute food supply. In Iloilo there are hundreds
of volunteers working together with the military to pack and distribute household food
packages. Some tarpaulins are being distributed. The interventions are by far not
meeting the needs.
 Municipality level: Municipality level DRR and Management committees are
activated. There are some contingency funds to support food to poor people.
 Barangay level: The barangays are reporting upwards in this change on damages and
needs.
 Save the Children, Unicef and World Vision are conducting assessments of the area.
Reportedly, Child Fund are available in the area as well.
4.2 To what extent are their needs addressed?
 The need of the population exceeds by far the capacity of government.
4.3 What are the specific needs and gaps related to children?
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As per above: Apart from general population needs such as shelter, food and WASH also
EiE, CPiE, ASRHR, Child health
5. Risks
5.1 What are the risks the population are exposed to?
The population most at risk: Food shortage, malnutrition, illness, child abuse
5.1.1 What is needed to address those risks?
Food, Shelter, WASH, health, nutrition, EiE and CPiE.
5.2 Which groups (Internally Displaced Persons-IDPs, refugees, residents) are vulnerable to
these risks? What is needed to address this?
People who have lost their homes and who still live in the evacuation centers.
5.3 What are the specific risks children are facing?
Same as 4.3
5.3.1 What is needed to address this?
Same as 5.1.1
5.4 What are the specific risks girls are facing?
Early pregnancy, maternal morbidity and mortality, SDIs, abuse including GBV, sexual
abuse and trafficking.
5.4.1 What is needed to address this?
Intervention in the following sectors: CPiE, EiE and ASRH.
6. Projected Trend
6.1 Forecast: How is the emergency likely to evolve?
Best scenario: significant immediate humanitarian support to local government to ensure
interventions covering above described needs in WASH, food and shelter.
Support to education sector to resume allowing all children to resume to safe schools within
2-4 weeks.
6.1.1 What subsequent needs are expected?
Early recovery of shelters, electricity, livelihood and schools. In the medium and long term
improved resilience to upcoming typhoons and other hazards.
6.2 Scenario: What is the political context and how is it likely to evolve?
Stable political environment.
6.2.1 What is needed to address this?
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7. Response Capacity of national and local authorities and civil society actors
7.1 How have national, sub-national, private sector, non-governmental and civil society
capacities been affected?
As mentioned above.
7.2 What are the initial interventions from the national and/or local authorities to respond to
the emergency, if any?
See 4.1
7.3 How are local and national authorities responding to this emergency?
See 4.1
7.4 What is the coping capacity of the affected communities and what are their initial
interventions?
Strong coping capacity has been seen at Barangay and family level. People are working hard
to clean up the rubble and reconstruct their homes. Cash transfer from relatives abroad
important for resilience. Those who have no relatives working outside their municipalities
(e.g. abroad or in Manila) are the most vulnerable in this sense.
8. International response capacity within the country
8.1 What is the impact on the international response capacity?
So far no international reponses have started in this area. As mentioned, some assessments
are underway.
8.2 Which agencies/organizations are located in the area?
As far as we have been able to assess: Unicef, Save the Children, Child Fund, World Vision
and in some areas local chapters of the Red Cross.
8.3 What have they been doing and what are they likely to do in response to the situation?
 So far nothing, but other NGOs might be planning for intervention in Panay. If Plan
will develop a proposal there will be a need to coordinate, in order to avoid overlaps
and fill gaps in a complementary manner.
9. Humanitarian Access
9.1 What are the logistic considerations and options for organising a response?
 Some barangays outside the main roads cannot be accessed by road due to fallen trees
and debris. To reach the island there is a need for boats. The harbours in Estancia and
Concepcion are operational. All large roads are accessible. Airports operational in
Iloilo City, Kalibo and Roxas City.
9.2 What are the security considerations for organising a response?
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To date no security concerns. Some tensions and evolving desperation noted in
Estancia.
9.3 Are civil-military relations a feature of the context? If so where and what types of
interventions?
 Filipino military are supporting government’s intervention. In case that security
worsens in relation to relief goods distribution, coordination might be needed with
Police.
10. Humanitarian Country Team’s strategic Priorities
10.1 List sectors identified for intervention by the Humanitarian Country Team (e.g. WASH,
Shelter, Food, protection, environment, education )
No reports specifically on Panay available yet. ECHO will probably integrate in next Flash
Report.
11. Analysis and recommendation on what needs and gaps Plan should respond to.
12. List life-saving needs, particularly of children
 Shelter: Distribution of Tarpaulins
 WASH: Distribution of Hygiene kits, Jerry Cans and Hyposol
 Food: Food distribution or unrestricted cash transfer to most vulnerable population.
 Primary Healthcare: Restoration and equipping of health posts including essential
drugs and standard health post disposables, clean delivery kits (MIMS standard),
contraceptives, and newborn kits. Reach out to pregnant women to promote ANC,
institutional delivery and post natal care.
13. List child protection needs
 Child friendly spaces
14. List education needs.
 Temporary learning sites where schools are severely damaged
 Learners kits
 Teaching kits
 Early recovery of damaged schools including reparation of roofs (using storm and
EQ resilient building technique)
END
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