Increasing movement of IDPs out of areas worst affected by Haiyan as displacement figures rise to over 4.4 million

 Latest figures from the government estimate around 13.25 million affected by the typhoon disaster and over 4.4 million people displaced (updated 21 November 11:30 CET), a sharp increase from the 921,000 people reported displaced as of November 15. More than 1.14 million homes have been damaged or destroyed (map 18 November) and re-housing the displaced population will cost approximately $6 million, according to national authorities.

The movement of the majority of internally displaced people (IDPs) out of the worst-affected areas to adjacent provinces is increasing in response to deteriorating conditions, insecurity and lack of access to shelter, food and other life-saving assistance. IOM estimates a daily average of 5,000 individuals has been moving out of Tacloban towards northern Samar as well as to Cebu via Ormoc. People are camping overnight at the ferry terminal in Tacloban in order to queue for seats.

Specific needs emerging for IDPs facing the greatest risks

UNHCR is setting up systems to collect information on IDP movements from sea and air departure points, such as the airport in Tacloban, and to protect them through facilitating assistance on arrival at their destinations and reducing threats to vulnerable IDPs such as from human traffickers.  Agencies have highlighted particular concerns for women, children, indigenous people, older people and disabled people who are vulnerable to extreme weather and threats from the breakdown of law and order.

Much more is needed to shelter people who nearly lost everything

Massive work to clear of debris from potential tent sites for IDPs and to rapidly scale-up the provision of emergency shelter is urgently needed, while only about a quarter of the funding required for shelters has been committed. Around 387,450 IDPs are now sheltering in 1,552 evacuation centres (updated 21 November) across six regions- mainly in the Eastern and Western Visayas regions- where humanitarian organisations are working to improve overcrowded, unsanitary and insecure conditions, particularly for children and other vulnerable people.

More information needs to reach IDPs in all locations on where and what relief is being distributed. While logistical backlogs and transport conditions are improving, major challenges remain to access people in remote areas with serious concerns for communities yet to be reached over two weeks since the typhoon first made landfall.

Read our recent blog post, 1 in 10 Filipinos affected by Haiyan, as picture of mass displacement emerges (13 November 2013)

Read IDMC’s report on disaster displacement in the Philippines (January 2013) and IDMC’s Global Estimates 2012: People displaced by disasters (May 2013) [pages 22-26].