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Red Cross responds to flood situation The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is on full swing responding to families affected by floods due to days of continuous rains triggered by Low Pressure Area and tropical storm Falcon, particularly in Mindanao where more than 83,000 families were affected by floods in Cotabato City, North Cotabato and Maguindanao Province. Trained volunteers including Red Cross 143 volunteers – 44 volunteers in every barangay (one leader and 43 members) have been mobilized to serve as disaster responders on the ground. PRC is set to provide food and non-food items over the weekend to 2,600 families in Cotabato City who were affected by floods and are now sheltered at the different evacuation centers, according to PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon. Gordon said the assistance is in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which donated the food and non-food items to PRC worth P1.7 million to include mobilization requirements. PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said, the local Red Cross chapter has earlier provided hot meals to 1,810 families and distributed non-food items to 220 families coming from local donations. The non-food items consisted of jerry cans, bath soap, detergent bar and hyposol for water purification. Cotabato City Red Cross Chapter Administrator Leopoldo Devilles reported that at present, more than 5,000 families composed of some 25,000 persons from 33 out 37 barangays that were affected by floods for more than two weeks now are still sheltered in 22 evacuation centers in the city. The flooding was caused by days of continuous rains made worse by the clogging of 16-ha. water hyacinths in Delta and Quirino bridges in Rio Grande de Mindanao near Cotabato City, according to Devilles. The PRC-ICRC joint relief operation will provide per family five kilos of rice, three tins of sardines and five packs of noodles for food items, and jerry cans and tarpaulins for temporary shelter for non-food items. The Red Cross will likewise provide medicines following report on cases of diarrhea, fever, skin diseases and water-borne diseases. Prophylaxis for leptospirosis will also be provided as necessary. In North Cotabato province, local Red Cross reported a total of 27,028 families or some 120,527 persons were affected by floods in 124 barangays in 10 municipalities. In Maguindanao Province, Red Cross reported a total of 56,834 families or 336,377 persons were also affected by floods in 178 barangays in 20 municipalities. No casualty has been reported, so far. Cotabato City Red Cross Chapter Chairman Bai Sinsuat Fatima is closely monitoring the situation and mobilizing resources to ensure that immediate assistance is provided to the most vulnerable. In Virac Catanduanes, local Red Cross Chapter Officer-In-Charge
Raymond Reginal reported 10 fishermen missing since 22 June due to
strong waves triggered by tropical storm Falcon. In Albay, residents of 11 barangays in Polanqui were evacuated to higher grounds due to rising floodwaters. No damage has been reported, so far. In Metro Manila, respective local chapters are providing hot meals to affected families at the evacuation centers; 1,113 families in Marikina, 585 families in Montalban and 500 in Quezon City. In Valenzuela, 38 families at the evacuation center were given food packs, used clothings and blankets. PRC also continues to intensify its bloodletting drive to ensure continuous supply of blood in case the need arises. Red Cross social workers are on standby to provide psychosocial support to flood-stricken families and help in restoring family links and tracing of missing persons should the need arise. PRC welcomes donations in cash for its relief efforts. You may visit PRC website at www.redcross.org.ph or PRC headquarters on Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila Tel.527-0000 or PRC hotline 143 or any of the Red Cross chapters nearest you. You may also deposit your donations to Banco De Oro Savings Acct. No. 453-0018647, Swift Code BNOR PH MM. |