More international aid for 'Sendong' victims coming

MANILA, Philippines - Commitments of support from countries and international organizations for the victims of tropical storm “Sendong” are coming in by the hour, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Del Rosario on Tuesday night to sympathize with the tragedy and offered assistance to the thousands of victims of the tragedy.

The European Union (EU), Japan, Australia, China, Russia, Spain, United States, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, World Health Organization (WHO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) also sympathized with the Philippines and offered help.

“As I said, by the hour we are getting assistance,” Del Rosario said.

The UN will mobilize today the UN Humanitarian Action Plan in response to the devastation and loss of life caused by the storm.

Acting UN Humanitarian coordinator and WHO country director Dr. Soe Nyunt-U will lead the launching on behalf of the Philippine Humanitarian Country Team and the international humanitarian community.

Soe will appeal for support to help the government of the Philippines provide life-saving assistance to more than 471,000 people severely affected by the storm.

The priority needs are water, food, sanitation and hygiene services and facilities, temporary shelter and debris clearance.

Soe visited Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities, hardest hit by the storm, to see firsthand the humanitarian situation in the worst-affected areas.

He also met with government representatives, aid organizations and communities affected by the tragic natural disaster.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also appealed for donations through UNICEF Philippines to help children and families in Mindanao affected by Sendong.

UNICEF is co-leading the water and sanitation response with the government, UN and NGOs to respond to the needs of children and families affected by the tropical storm.

According to UNICEF, lack of safe water and sanitation are the main priorities for those responding to the emergency in Mindanao.

The flooding has affected more than 63,000 families or 338,000 individuals, half of them children, in some 260 barangays.

UNICEF has dispatched supplies to the affected areas, including water kits and water treatment equipment to ensure safe, clean water; hygiene kits containing soap, toothbrushes and personal hygiene items.

UNICEF is also preparing to send tents and tarpaulins for temporary shelter; vitamins for mothers and infants; breastfeeding education materials to reduce the risk of infant mortality; and recreation kits so children can play and begin to have a sense of normalcy.

The European Commission also announced the allocation of 3 million euros to support the emergency response and provide relief to tens of thousands of people affected by the storm.

The funds will be used primarily for debris clean up, food assistance, temporary shelters, medical assistance, water and sanitation and protection. Over 100,000 people in need of urgent assistance will benefit from the funding.

“The funding will bolster the efforts of humanitarian organizations who are working hard to provide immediate assistance,” said Kristalina Georgieva of the European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

“In order to ensure coordinated and effective EU action, we have also activated the Civil Protection Mechanism to advise Member States and participating countries on what is needed,” Georgieva said.

The Spanish embassy in Manila said the Spanish Cooperation Agency for International Development (AECID) will provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of the storm in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Local help

President Aquino led volunteers in distributing relief goods in Iligan on Tuesday.

Members of the Airline Operators Council (AOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) tagged along and donated some 21,000 bottles of mineral water, 250 pairs of slippers and 250 pairs of rubber boots.

The Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) also initiated an all-out effort to aid the victims of Sendong.

“Our member companies, as well as other partners, have immediately gathered together to help the victims of Sendong under PMSEA’s Safety Networking Action Program (SNAP) as we offer our condolences to our fellow Filipinos who lost members of their families and property,” said PMSEA president Louie Sarmiento.

Sarmiento said the PMSEA has already dispatched its Portable Water Filtration System (PWFS) to supply clean drinking water to Cagayan de Oro residents with the assistance of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

Private shipping firms and air carriers also pitched in to help in the transport of relief goods.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said Fedex International has already started the airlift of relief goods from Manila to Cebu, where they are currently being picked up by ships of Negros Navigation for the quick hop to flood-ravaged Cagayan de Oro.

Sulpicio Tagud, president of Negros Navigation, also said Cebu Ferries opened up daily trips to Cagayan de Oro from Cebu, loaded with rice supplies, clothing, mineral water and other provisions.

AirAsia announced it would start relief goods mobilization and round-trip deliveries from Clark airport to Cagayan de Oro.

Mercy missions are now being readied for deployment from Clark to Cagayan de Oro as well, the DOTC said.

– With Mayen Jaymalin, Edith Regalado, Perseus Echeminada, Rainier Allan Ronda, Paolo Romero, Danny Dangcalan, Jose Rodel Clapano