THE Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s Humanitarian and Emergency Action Response Team (ARMM-Heart) on Wednesday distributed relief assistance to 1,442 families affected by the onslaught of Tropical Storm Vinta.
The beneficiary-families of the relief goods are from the towns of Balindong and Tugaya, which are among the hardest hit areas in the province of Lanao del Sur.
Also, the province of Lanao del Sur was the hardest hit among the five provinces of ARMM. The other four provinces are Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman led the distribution of the relief goods, which consisted of rice, corned beef, sardines, and coffee, in Balindong town.
There were 24,202 families affected by the floods and landslides based on the reports of local government units (LGUs).
Hataman said the storm claimed 29 lives and 33 injured while 16 are still missing in Lanao del Sur alone. The province has been placed under the State of Calamity after torrential rains inundated 19 of its 39 towns.
Earlier this week, 893 and 605 affected families in Lanao del Sur’s towns of Bacolod-Kalawi and Madalum, respectively, also received relief goods from the ARMM.
The regional government also extended cash assistance to the families of those who lost their lives.
Hataman said that 21,178 families were affected in five Maguindanao towns. No deaths, or major injuries were reported, but two persons remain missing.
He said in Sulu and Basilan, 90 families and 443 families, respectively, were affected. But no deaths, missing, or injured individuals were reported.