Sickness hounds evacuees

CAGAYAN DE ORO - Some 19 displaced individuals taking refuge at the De Lara Park in front of the Provincial Capitol in Cagayan de Oro City have fallen sick after days of living exposed to the elements.

The sick individuals are part of 37 Higaonon families or 180 individuals who fled their homes in Sitio Mincamansi, Banglay village in Lagonglong town last Saturday, March 29, following renewed clashes between government soldiers and the New People’s Army (NPA).

Datu Reynaldo Ayuma said they will remain at the park until the soldiers leave their community to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

“Naa gyud buto-buto among nadunggan so naa gyud encounter (We could hear explosions),” Ayuma said.

Ayuma said some 15 children have been suffering indigestion and fever perhaps because of the weather and because of the water they are using for drinking.

The evacuees have been in the park for nearly a week which tents and mats only served as their protection from the cold weather and mosquitoes especially during night time.

He said the Provincial Government have been supplying them with enough food but the downpour was their main concern.

“Ok ra ang supply pero ang problema kung magulan kay magbaha man unya naghilanat og kalibanga na mga bata tungod pud tingali sa tubig nga wala nila naandan. Gusto pud unta mi sa moskitiro batok sa lamok (We have enough supplies but the rains continue to be a problem as children are getting sick. The water may also be causing the sickness as we are not used to the water hare. We also need mosquito nets),” Ayuman said.

In the report submitted by Jocelyn Tagarao, the nurse from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) tasked to monitor the health condition of the evacuees, there were 19 individuals aged nine months to 45 years old claiming to have fever, cough, diarrhea, asthma, and stomach ache.