An estimated 200 people are dead or missing after heavy rain triggered landslides and floods on the central islands of Leyte, Panaon and Bohol last month as well as the northeast section of Mindanao, the country's second largest island.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has identified a further 3,000 people in southern Leyte who are in urgent need of shelter and access to clean water.

"If the Red Cross doesn't help these stricken families right now, nobody else will," said Jelma de la Pena, acting secretary general of the Philippine National Red Cross.

"And with further heavy rainfall in the region very likely, the outlook for them is bleak unless they are housed adequately and quickly, with direct access to clean water and sanitation," she said in a statement.

The 853,000 Swiss franc (693,000 dollar, 544,000 euro) appeal will help to provide emergency shelter and food for these people, the Red Cross said.

In total, the landslides and floods have caused an estimated 16.3 million Swiss francs of damage to infrastructure, crops and property, affecting about 150,000 people, according to the agency.

TERRA.WIRE