THE Army's 53rd Infantry "Matapat" Battalion (IB) extended humanitarian assistance to the victims of Typhoon Odette in Surigao.

The humanitarian aid consisting of food items and non-food items were coursed through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Zamboanga Peninsula, said Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, 53IB commander.

The aid included 1,220 bottles of water, 144 pieces of soap, 366 sachets of shampoo, 276 sachets of toothpaste, 60 pieces of toothbrush, 951 shelter repair kits, 1,000 blankets, 46 family kits, 2,000 hygiene kits and 70 family packs.

Herrera said that 10 units of portable generators were also turned over to OCD-Caraga for the purpose of augmenting relief assistance to the affected families brought by the typhoon.

Caraga Region was among the hardest hit areas when Typhoon Odette made its first landfall in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte at 1:30 p.m. of December 16.

Herrera said the 53IB will continue to extend its hand to the families that need help.

"We will continue to conduct Disaster Response Operations to help and serve our fellow Filipinos who were severely hit by the typhoon," Herrera said. (SunStar Zamboanga)