Since the 14th of December, the tropical tempest Washi litteraly shakes the South of the Philippines, and provokes deadly floods, rivers of mud and debris, and mudslides. Entire villages are said to have disappeared in this region, usually spared by typhoons. According to the last information, the death toll would rise to 1.010 and numerous missing people.
The poorest layers of the population, living in flimsy housing at the water's edge, were particularly touched by the catastrophe. Millions of people are, as a consequence, homeless and lack food or clothes. At the same time, more than 280.000 people would be displaced, 40.000 could be sheltered in temporary housing centers.
President, Benigno Aquino, promised to the victims a special help from the State, devoted to the building of new houses. One condition to receive this finantial assistance: avoid the areas liable to flooding. The government and the Red Cross asked the international society to answer to the urge needs. The UN relayed this call. On the EU's side, 3 million euros were given to the local authorities to evacuate the victims and enable a food and sanitary assistance.
The important issue is above all to prevent any emidemic to develop. With corpses, debris, water stagnation, the situation might slip soon.
This natural disaster is only one out of the long list of the ones that occured in 2011. Unfortunately, because of climate change, dramatic situations like this are likely to increase. According to the estimates, 375 million people might be victims of natural disasters before 2015.
