On 30 November 2006, the super typhoon Reming (international name Durian) reached the island province of Catanduanes, on the eastern coast of the Philippines. With winds up to 225 kilometers per hour, Reming swooped over 30 provinces, displacing over 14,000 people particularly in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur. These provinces comprise the Bicol Region, one of the poorest areas in the Philippines.
The worst affected are lowland and coastal communities. In Albay, mudflows from the Mayon volcano buried at least eight villages, killing up to 20 people and scores injured. Local disaster officials launched a search and rescue mission for an unspecified number of missing. Power and telephone lines were destroyed, hampering communication with local partners.
Communities in this province have yet to recover fully from the aftermath of the volcano’s activity in July and from two other super typhoons which hit the Philippines in October. No reports have been received yet from the worst-affected provinces.
In any disaster, it is children who suffer the most. Of the estimated 4 million people affected by this crisis, approximately one-fourth are children. Vulnerable to cold, hunger and trauma, children and women in this poverty-stricken region require urgent life-saving assistance to be able to survive.
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