ASEAN relief body donates equipment for residents displaced by Marawi conflict
A disaster relief body of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) handed over relief items and equipment for persons displaced from their homes in Marawi City and other affected communities on Friday.
Officials received 600 family tents, 600 family kits, more than 3,000 personal hygiene kits, 600 kitchen sets, and 4 water filtration units from the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Centre) at the Laguindingan Airport, Misamis Oriental.
On hand to witness the turnover were Task Force Bangon Marawi Executive Director and National Defense undersecretary for defense operations Cesar B. Yano and Vice Chairperson for Disaster Response and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo.
The ASEAN immediately responded to the request of the Philippines for assistance, in accordance with the One ASEAN, One Response declaration signed on September 2016.
The declaration is based on the principle of harnessing the individual and collective strengths of ASEAN members to effectively respond to disasters within and beyond the region.
“Today we witness the realization of One ASEAN, One Response. In the spirit of ASEAN solidarity, we are supporting the Government and the people of the Philippines in the form of ASEAN relief items. This is one of those moments where the vision of One ASEAN One Response is no longer an imagination but a realization,” Ms. Adelina Kamal, AHA Centre acting executive director said.
For his part, Mr. Yano said that: “AHA Centre has been a very excellent partner of the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) in dealing with the major incidents that have happened in past, offering and sending support and assistance. Their donation would contribute, in no small measure, to the success of our post-disaster operations.”
Task Force Bangon Marawi has been exerting efforts for the speedy recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of affected communities by the ongoing Marawi siege.
Based on latest reports gathered by the NDRRM Operations Center, 5,055 families or 27,335 persons are housed in 89 evacuation centers while 98,846 families or 442,981 persons are staying in friends or relatives amid the conflict. — Jil Danielle M. Caro
