MANILA – The United States government is providing USD 1.25 million (PHP70 million) in humanitarian and logistics aid for communities adversely affected by severe flooding and landslides in Mindanao.
According to the US Embassy in the Philippines, the funding is expected to provide emergency food, shelter, water, sanitation and essential hygiene items to support affected communities in Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao City in Mindanao.
The implementing agency is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and will be working with Catholic Relief Services and Action Against Hunger to ensure that the assistance will reach the most “vulnerable groups”, including single-parent households, persons with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, low-income families and indigenous peoples.
In a statement, USAID Mission Director Ryan Washburn said that the U.S. is ready to give a helping hand to efforts of the Philippine government to address the immediate needs of families affected by intense flooding and landslides in Mindanao.
“We are proud to partner with the Philippine government to support the immediate needs of Mindanaoans in the areas hardest hit by the flooding and landslides,” Washburn said. “This support will help ensure that food and other life-saving supplies reach communities most in need.”
The U.S. Embassy also mentioned that the USAID has been working with the Philippines’ Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the International Organization for Migration since last week to provide emergency shelter for more than 5,000 affected individuals as well as working closely with the World Food Programme to transport food packs to 65,000 families.
Earlier, the United States government issued a “Declaration of Humanitarian Need” last February 8 that will facilitate support for the Philippine government’s response efforts in Mindanao.
At the request of the Philippine government, the U.S. Department of Defense, through the III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), provided two (2) C-130S to assist the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Office of Civil Defense, and USAID in delivering 15,000 DSWD food packs to affected families.
(Photo courtesy of US Embassy Manila)
“Support to our Allies and partners, and their people in a time of need, is a non-negotiable,” said III MEF Commanding General and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Roger Turner.
“Working in direct coordination with USAID and the Government of the Philippines, we stand ready to support those who need urgent assistance,” Turner added.
Certain areas in Mindanao have been experiencing heavy rainfall from January 28 until February 2 which caused significant flooding and landslides, affecting nearly 1.2 million people. It is estimated that 795,000 people were displaced with more than 97,600 individuals now seeking shelter in 380 evacuation centers across Mindanao.
