|
By Shirley T. Kimmayong
World Vision provided food aid to displaced families in Zambales, a north-western region of the Philippines after a dike collapsed due to heavy rains aggravated by Typhoon Morakot.
World Vision Philippines responded after conducting an assessment to identify the immediate needs of the affected families living in six evacuation centers. Assessments were also done to determine the severity of damage caused by the flash flood in the area.
“We are distributing bread and 40 gallons of water to almost 800 individuals including 264 children in two evacuation centers because they have no food to eat for their breakfast today,” said Zenia Capiral, World Vision Area Development Programme (ADP) Manager.
Zenia added that they will give additional relief goods consisting of five kilos of rice, four tins of sardines and four packs of noodles to 1,871 affected families.
She also reported that all sponsored children are well accounted for with some in the evacuation centers and others taking shelter with relatives.
“We are glad to note that there were no reported casualties among our nearly 4,000 sponsored children in the area,” Zenia said. Zambales ADP is supported locally and by World Vision US.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that more than 13,000 individuals were displaced in Zambales. The province is now under a state of calamity as declared by its provincial government.
Class has been suspended for all students in the province.
Moreover, media reports say that many residents were spared because they clung onto trees while awaiting rescue or for floodwaters to subside. Many houses were submerged, and villagers surprised by the raging waters say they failed to save most of their belongings.
As of 9 August 2009, almost 29,000 residents were affected in the whole of Luzon central region.
Typhoons and flash floods are common across the Philippines during the monsoon months between May and October.
| 
