OIC delegation to assess 'Sendong' victims' needs in Oro

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

A FOUR-member delegation from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has arrived in Cagayan de Oro on Monday to assess "how member-states could extend assistance to the affected communities."

The delegation, headed by Director Fuad Ali Al-Maznaee of its Humanitarian Affairs Department, marks "the first time the OIC has dispatched a needs-assessment mission to the Philippines," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

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"The Philippines appreciates this kind gesture from our brothers in the OIC," DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said in a statement.

The mission was dispatched by OIC Secretary-General Ekmelledin Ihsanoglu after he called on the group's 57 member-states to extend assistance "to help save lives and rebuild the livelihood after these deadly and devastating floods."

Upon arrival, officials were briefed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regarding ongoing relief efforts and the long-term requirements of the affected communities.

Seguis also visited the DFA Regional Consular Office in Cagayan de Oro and discovered that at least two employees lost their belongings during the flashfloods that hit the city.

More than 1,000 people have died and hundreds more have been unaccounted for in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and other areas in northern Mindanao as a result of Sendong last week.

Denmark, Singapore group donate aid

In a related report, the Danish government has sent emergency aid to the Philippines to help typhoon victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.

Denmark has decided to donate DKK 300,000 (P2.3 million) as an "immediate humanitarian response," a statement released by the Manila-based Citizen's Disaster Response Center Inc. (CDRC)

Denmark is cooperating with the CDRC, which is already operational in the disaster areas.

The donation is expected to assist 1,500 families in the urban areas of Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City where food, water, sanitation materials, mattresses and blankets will be distributed to the victims, the same statement said.

In a separate emailed statement, the organization has also distributed 1,000 relief packs to families in Cagayan de Oro City last December 23.

Coursed through the CDRC's Regional Center Panday Bulig, the relief effort was made possible through Mercy Relief, a humanitarian aid agency in Singapore, which donated SG$12,000 (P404,000), it said in a statement.

Relief packs were distributed to three barangays in Cagayan De Oro namely Macansadig, Balulang, and Pag-Asa.

These contained 1.5 liters of mineral water, five kilos of rice, two pieces of canned goods, two packs of noodles, a bar of soap, a packet of detergent, and three toothbrushes.

Tents set up for temporary shelter

In a separate report, the Philippine Red Cross has set up 1000 tents in various areas in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities, which will serve as transitional shelter for evacuees while waiting for a more settled relocation and shelter.

Its teams will also help distribute 5,000 hygiene kits, 2500 each in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Each hygiene kit consists of five towels, five bath soap, one bottle shampoo, hair comb, five toothbrushes, 225 grams toothpaste, two razor, I pack cotton buds, I pack sanitary napkins, and 2 rolls toilet paper.

The Red Cross will also distribute 10,000 non-food items consisting of two mats, two blankets, two mosquito nets, and one jerry can per family, it said in a statement.

Children will also receive toys and school supplies in time for the school opening next year.

In time for the New Year medya noche, the Red Cross will distribute variety of food and drinks to each family along with other special gift packs.

The Red Cross has served a total of 5,495 families with food items; 3,316 with non-food items; and 2,333 families with hot meals, Secretary General Gwen Pang said.

Red Cross has likewise deployed three water tankers and installed four water bladders in Cagayan de Oro and two in Iligan. (CVB/Sunnex)