Flood-hit Mindanao gets aid from Red Cross

THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has provided 71,000 meals and clean water to 38,000 people in flood-hit Mindanao.

Since January 29, the agency said it has been providing nutritious hot meals to 71,240 persons and 441,900 liters of water to 6,830 families or 38,445 individuals in flood- and landslideravaged Mindanao.

It has been a month now since heavy rains, massive flooding and landslide incidents, brought about by the shear line and trough of the low pressure area, struck the region and displaced thousands of families and left them with limited access to basic necessities such as food and water.

Richard Gordon, PRC chairman and chief executive officer, said that access to food and water is immediately disrupted after a hazard event, such as flood and landslides.

“Provisions for water and food are among the standard responses of the PRC. That is why our 37 food trucks, 29 water tankers and other assets are strategically positioned across the country to enable us to immediately respond to people that will be affected by disasters,” Gordon said.

“Several of our ‘Hot Meals on Wheels’ were deployed in Mindanao within the first 24 hours of the disaster. The water tankers we dispatched came with water bladders and tap stands to enable us to extend our water assistance to more communities in need,” he added.

In a statement on Wednesday, February 28, PRC Secretary-General Gwen Pang said that the PRC also constructed a bathing facility in Davao de Oro to help meet the affected residents’ sanitation needs.

In addition to food and water, the PRC is also providing humanitarian assistance to affected families in Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Davao City.