THE International Committee on the Red Cross expressed apprehension of a disease outbreak in evacuation centers by prolonged displacement as a result of the ongoing fighting in Marawi City.
This as the ICRC has observed an increase in the number of reported cases of diarrhea, upper respiratory infection, hypertension and fever in different health facilities providing medical assistance to the displaced residents, particularly those who are staying in evacuation centers.
“The health situation is not yet critical at this point, but we fear that this may worsen in the coming days with prolonged displacement,” said Jose Amigo, Health Coordinator of the ICRC in the Philippines.
Amigo said the increase in the number of cases is due to the displaced population’s current living condition.
“They, particularly children and the elderlies, become at risk to water-borne diseases because of their limited access to basic water and sanitation facilities. They also become prone to communicable diseases because of the limited space in evacuation centers,” he added.
More than 200,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in Marawi City. Majority of the evacuees are temporarily seeking shelter with their relatives.
Thousands of them, who have nowhere to go, are cramped in evacuation centers, within and outside Marawi City, for more than two weeks now.
The ICRC, in support to the local health units’ efforts to address the concerns, has been working closely with hospitals and other health facilities within and around Marawi City to augment their existing capacity.
To date, the ICRC provided additional medicines and medical supplies to 11 hospitals and health facilities in Iligan and Balo-i in Lanao del Norte, and Tamparan, Balindong, Piagapo, Saguiaran and Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.
The ICRC has also supported the mini-hospital setup by the rural health unit of Saguiaran by providing 10 folding beds for patients, and a supplementary kit of essential medicines and medical supplies that can serve 10,000 individuals for three months. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)