The fire left around one thousand two hundred ninety four (1,520) or five thousand four hundred thirty six (5,536) individuals homeless.  They are now staying temporarily at Delpan Sports Complex. Two persons were reported wounded.

CDRC Podcast’s debut episode is also available at PodOmatic. You can download the MP3 of the episode there too!

Carlos Padolina, CDRC’s Deputy Executive Director, cited the records of the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) which showed that of the 302 natural disasters that happened worldwide, 33 occurred in the Philippines.

CDRC is a partner of CRED, a World Health Organization collaborating center based in Brussels, Belgium, which maintains the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT: The International Disaster Database).

CDRC revealed that if human-induced disasters like armed conflict and fire were included, the total number of disaster occurrence in 2011 will reach 431. This is a more than 50% increase from the 2010 figure of only 202 disaster events recorded. CDRC maintains its own disasters database, monitoring both natural and human-induced disasters.

Padolina added that these natural and human-induced disasters combined affected more than 3 million families or 15.3 million people, and caused over Php 26 billion in economic damages. This is a major leap from last year’s only 6.75 million people affected.

The Philippines also placed third in the list of countries most affected by natural disasters in 2011 with 11.7 million people affected. Previously, the country placed only 5th on that list.

Padolina said the Philippines’ ranking came not as a surprise since Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi), one of the worst disasters that hit the country, happened late last year.

In terms of casualties, the Philippines came second to Japan with 1,924 people killed. More than 1,400 of these were due to tropical storm Sendong.

“The challenge for us is to reduce the impact of disasters on our lives,” Padolina said. “No matter how frequent these calamities might occur, as long as we are prepared, we can bounce right back.”

CDRC is a non-government organization that pioneered and continues to promote community-based disaster management in the Philippines. It operates nationwide through a network of regional centers and people’s organizations.

Download the complete Philippine Disaster Report 2011 here.

Supported by: Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe

CDRC and its Regional Centers assisted 3,631 families affected by Typhoon Pedring (Nesat) in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Bicol.

Last March 4-6, 2012, members of the 30^th IBPA and 3^rd Special Forces of 402^nd Brigade launched combat operations.  Indiscriminate firing, shelling and airstrikes were executed simultaneously. They targeted the nearby mountain areas of Sitio Zapanta Valley spreading fear among the residents. This forced the residents to evacuate and seek shelter at Brgy. Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.

Once again the youth, elderly, women, children, the sick and the lumad people of Zapanta braved the 9 kilometer muddy trek at around 5 in the afternoon of March 6, 2012. The 45 families or 125 individuals arrived at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Brgy. Bangayan at around 8 o’clock in the evening.

As the airstrikes continued and military troops entered the populated areas, 80 peasant families or 279 individuals followed and evacuated last March 11, 2012. At present there are 149 lumad-Mamanwa and peasant families with 429 individuals temporarily sheltered at the Barangay Multi-Purpose Hall in Brgy. Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. These families also evacuated last June 2010, and twice last April and June 2011 because of militarization and violations against their human rights.

Meanwhile, 76 families with 276 individuals are presently scattered in Alegria, Surigao del Norte. Of this, 52 families are lumad-Mamanwas. They evacuated from their communities last February 28, 2012 when around 80 elements from the 30^th and 38^th IB PA launched their COPD and combat operations in Brgy. Ferlda, Alegria, Surigao del Norte. Even as residents evacuated because of military presence in their community, the military joined them as they hiked the 18 kilometers towards Brgy. Ombong. The soldiers inserted themselves in the midst of the civilian population and used the civilians as shields until they reached Ombong, Alegria.

For sure there are other lumad communities dislocated by the massive bombing, airstrikes and military operations. Many lumad communities are near if not directly situated in the bombed mountain areas.

The mountains connecting Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur contain large deposits of various minerals especially gold. Minimax Gold Exploration is among those with mining interests in the mountains of Santiago, Jabonga and Kitcharao. At present SR Mining Inc., have gold mining operations in these mountains. Applications for exploration permits in the municipalities of Tubay, Santiago and Jabonga and Cabadbaran City have increased. While the survey of the Lopez owned First Gen Hydro Electric Corp. is continuing in Agusan del Norte particularly in Zapanta Valley. Large coal deposits can also be found in Kitcharao and Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte.

The continuing implementation of Oplan Bayanihan greatly affected the lives, livelihoods and existence of the lumad people. This is being implemented to ensure the unhampered entry of mining activities.

The lack of food in their communities because of military operations and the threat of airstrikes and the uncertain living conditions in evacuation centers pushed the affected people to proceed to Butuan City, CARAGA Region’s center of government, to seek support and assistance from the government, and seek sanctuary.

PRESENT SITUATION IN THE BUTUAN CITY EVACUATION CENTER

On March 14, 78 Mamanwa families with about 345 individuals from Kitcharao and Sitio Lusong, Brgy. Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City arrived in Butuan City to seek sanctuary and ask for help from the Agusan del Norte Provincial Government to petition the pullout of military troops from their communities and desist from the airstrikes in the community.  They asked for shelter from the Provincial Government but were refused the use of the Provincial Capitol’s covered gym, in favor of a private contract with an entertainment company who were to set up an exhibit until May.  Local leaders from Kayapan – Amihan, a local lumad organization, were able to ask for assistance from the barangay officials of Brgy. Imadejas for the use of their barangay covered court.  The evacuees are now sheltered at the Barangay Imadejas Covered Court.

The evacuees are in need of food, medicines, clothes, laundry soap, sleeping mats and potable water. They also need slippers and change of clothes, especially the children with infected wounds.

No. of affected communities and family:

Report from: Bread for Emergency Assistance and Development (BREAD)

For the final episode, the musician who composed and produced CDRC’s radio theme song — Karl Ramirez — graced the studio for a live rendition of the song. CDRC’s staff were also present to thank and say goodbye to all the listeners. Despite it being the last episode, CDRC and its Regional Centers will continue to report or feed information to Radio Veritas on the latest news and issues related to disasters and the environment. CDRC is also planning to continue producing special episodes via the internet or through Podcasts.