Humanitarian Organizations Extend Support to Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 13  – Private organizations have extended humanitarian support to displaced families in Albay due to landslide and floods brought by continuous heavy rains for the past 21 days.

Abundio Nunez Jr., Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) operation officer, said the Supreme Master Ching Hai International distributed assorted food items in 2,000 affected families in the municipalities of Sto. Domingo, Manito and Bacacay, Albay.

The Supreme Master Ching Hai International is an spiritual and humanitarian organization whose assistance extends beyond all cultural boundaries.

The Aboitiz Geothermal Power in Tiwi, Albay on the other hand will be distributing 8,330 packs (two kilos each pack), on Friday, to evacuees and economically displaced families.

“The assistance is not limited to evacuees alone because even those households not threatened by floods of lahar are also suffering from the impact of heavy rains specially farmers and fisher folks, so therefore their means of livelihood are effected,” Nunez said.

According to him, Governor Joey Salceda ordered to include economically displaced families in the distribution of food relief because of the unavoidable effects of continuous rains that strike the province since last month.

Nunez also said that other support from humanitarian partners is the Philippine National Red Cross. “Non-food items have been distributed to 754 families in the Municipality of Manito.”

Staff and Emergency Rescue Unit of Philippine Red Cross are on standby 24/7 for intervention.

Early this month, the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNPFA) donated hygiene kits to reproductive age women in the evacuation centers.

The hygiene kits are composed of soap, towel, alcohol, underwear and other items for hygienic purposes. (PNA)