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Funding shortfall hampering relief efforts in the Philippines
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday that the humanitarian response following the typhoons that hit the Philippines is being hampered by funding shortages.
flooding in the Philippines
Storms pummeled the region two weeks ago, bringing heavy rains, causing power outages, and communications problems.
Nearly 1,000 people died in the storms, which affected around 9.8 million people and destroyed over 40,000 homes.
The Spokersperson for the Secretary General, Marie Okabe, says less than half of the money has been disbursed so far.
"A $74 million Flash Appeal, which was issued in early October, is only 36 percent funded, having received $26 million. The Flash Appeal is being revised and is expected to be finalized in the coming week."
Around 1.7 million people are still displaced, says Okabe, or living in areas that remain under water or flooded.
The World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization have revised estimates of emergency and early recovery needs to reflect this new data.
Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations Radio
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