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Save the Children Philippines on Friday distributed humanitarian aid to save lives to thousands of displaced children and their families following the massive devastation of Typhoon Rolly in the Bicol region.
Two trucks full of hygiene kits, family emergency supplies and water kits have been distributed to thousands of households in four barangays in Tiwi, Albay, where the storm made landfall. Life-saving humanitarian aid will also be distributed to affected families in Camarines Sur and Catanduanes, the worst affected province of Supertyphoon Goni.
Children suffer hunger and anguish, missing school a week after the world’s most powerful typhoon struck the poor coastal provinces of Bicol.
MMDA team deployed
The Manila Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) dispatched a team to Camarines Sur on Friday to provide rehabilitation assistance to families affected by the typhoon.
MMDA President Danilo Lim said the 17-person team will assist in rehabilitation efforts in Barangay Abo, Tigaon, Camarines Sur, which suffered severe devastation from Rolly.
“We have to help our kababayan who have been badly affected by Rolly. I want all of you to stay safe throughout the mission, ”Lim said during the farewell ceremony at MMDA headquarters.
The team, comprised of staff from the agency’s Division of Public Safety and the Office of Flood Control Sewer Management, is led by Task Force Commander Allan Longcop.
For his part, Ret. General Alfredo Andrés, officer in charge of MMDA’s Metropolitan Public Security Office (MPSO), said that the contingent is equipped with water purifiers, solar panels, generators, chainsaws, among others.
Camarines Sur Fourth District Representative Arnie Fuentebella requested help from MMDA.
Children’s tales of destruction
“Our house was destroyed. I feel bad because we don’t have money for repairs, ”said Rodelfa, 16, whose home in the coastal town of Tiwi in Albay province was among those washed away by storm surges. She and her family now live in a makeshift hut with plastic sheeting as walls.
“We need food and also help with our education. In high school, we used cell phones [for distance learning because of Covid-19]. But we don’t have money to buy phone credits and I don’t have my own cell phone. I only borrow one, ”he said.
Atty. Alberto Muyot, Executive Director of Save the Children Philippines, said:
“Children from poor households and those living in remote areas are the most affected by climate-related impacts. Its impact is killing our children, their loved ones and ruining their homes and their chance for a future. “
He said that the humanitarian system in the country has expanded as the local government’s calamity funds have dried up due to its respective response to Covid-19 and previous typhoons and calamities.
Save the Children estimates that at least 1.3 million people, 450,000 of whom are children, were severely affected by Typhoon Rolly, the 18th typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2020.
Based on the initial assessment, Save the Children identified the immediate needs of children and their families including clean water, food security and livelihoods, as well as learning and teaching materials for children and teachers who were damaged by the typhoon. . These materials include the printed modules / activity sheets, books, bond paper supplies, computers, printers and Risographs.
