About 2,500 households in Quezon City, Malabon City and Manila have received non-food items kits including blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, and bath soaps from World Vision.
World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. (World Vision Philippines) has rolled out relief efforts for children and families in its assisted areas in Metro Manila after the onslaught of super typhoon “Carina” (international name: Gaemi).
In Quezon City, Malabon City, and the City of Manila, about 2,500 households have received non-food items kits, which included blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, and bath soaps. World Vision also deployed its National Rapid Response Team in Cagayan for assessment and coordination.
“We are hoping these items could somehow help our kababayans. They have already been staying in evacuation centers for days,” shared the child-focused organization’s Interim National Director, Jun N. Godornes, during their first relief distribution in Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School, Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City.
Godornes thanked their partners and supporters for praying and helping their kababayans through the said ministry for the most vulnerable children and underserved communities.
In World Vision-assisted areas in Metro Manila, including the City of Manila, almost 2,000 thousand families have been directly affected, many of whom stay in evacuation centers.
During an interview with Katrina Hallare, World Vision’s Field Communications Specialist for Luzon, 8-year-old Noreen said, “Nalungkot kasi ako eh,” (I was sad) while sharing how her school bag and paper were flooded and her crayons were broken.
Joanna, a resident of Kitanlad, Quezon City, recalled how they were forced to evacuate from their residence as floodwaters reached the second floor of their house. “Noong lumikas po kami, doon po kami sa may banda sa gilid lang po ng kalsada kasi hindi po kaya dito kasi yung anak ko po may hika din po,” (When we evacuated, we were at the side of the road because it was not possible here, and my kid had asthma.) she said.
The thought of almost losing her child due to drowning made Emerita, 47, cry while explaining how her husband was there just in time to save their child. She said, “Sana po yung mga tao maka-survive kasi ang hirap po. Naubusan kami ng gamit, naanod, nawala lahat. Yung school supplies ng anak ko, wala na, tapos wala na po kami mahigaan, nabasa na po lahat ng gamit namin, wala na po. Sana po may makatulong.” (I hope people will survive because it is so hard. We lost our things, which were washed away by the floods. Nothing’s left of my children’s school supplies. We don’t have mats where we can sleep; everything’s wet. All’s gone. I hope some people can help us.)
Key concerns determined were immediate and essential needs, including, but not limited to, food and water for affected families; restoration of damaged infrastructure and shelter due to flooding and landslides; Recovery assistance for the affected farmers and fisherfolks and provision of learning supplies for the students who lost their belongings to the flood.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in Luzon, one of the country’s major island groups, as of 8:00 a.m. on July 29, 102 cities and municipalities remain under the State of Calamity, and 502 schools suspended classes.
