RELIEF assistance remained steady for the victims of the magnitude-6.7 earthquake that hit Surigao City on Feb. 10, the Philippine Red Cross and the Department of Social Welfare and Development disclosed recently.
Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, however, aired her department’s appeal for help, particularly with the affected residents’ water needs.
“We need to continue the provision of relief assistance to the citizens of Surigao, and this includes water. There is no way that people can function well and survive without a steady supply of water for drinking and for other household needs,” she said.
The PRC started distributing safe water on Feb. 15 and has since then distributed thousands of liters of water to the residents of the devastated areas.
To date, the PRC has distributed 76,500 liters of water to survivors. The strong-intensity earthquake severely damaged the water system of Surigao City and its neighboring municipalities.
“Water is essential to survival and survivors can go on without food for a few days, as long as they have water. We have been water tankering since Feb. 14,” PRC said in a statement.
Water tankering and water sanitation (Watsan) assessments in Brgy. Sabang, Surigao City, Brgy. San Isidro, Sison in Caragya Regional Hospital and Brgy. Sabang were implemented by PRC a few days after the disaster.
Apart from water, the Red Cross donated family tents, plastic mats, mosquito nets, mosquito traps, blankets, hygiene kits, jerry cans, and canned goods, such as sardines.
Surigao City remains under a state of calamity. The earthquake has killed eight people and injured 197 others. Currently, 4,786 families (or 7,744 individuals) are trying to recover from the tragedy.
