Sam steps in after floods

The US government is providing an additional P13.8 million ($250,000) in funding to deliver emergency shelter assistance and hygiene kits to more than 3,000 families, or approximately 15,800 persons, remaining in evacuation centers in Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Pampanga following severe flooding in July. 

This latest assistance brings the total amount of US humanitarian support for disaster response efforts in the Philippines to P27.6 million ($500,000). 

Through this new tranche of funding, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will distribute shelter-grade tarpaulins, shelter repair kits, and essential household supplies to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed. 

Each shelter repair kit contains basic construction tools and materials to help families begin rebuilding their homes.

To promote health and sanitation and improve living conditions in evacuation centers, families will also receive hygiene kits containing soap, buckets, and cleaning supplies. 

In addition to distributing relief items, IOM will also monitor the condition of hygiene and sanitation facilities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of affected families. 

“Although flooding has subsided in most areas, thousands of families remaining in evacuation centers continue to face significant challenges,” US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Y. Robert Ewing said.

“We are grateful to be working alongside our partners, including IOM, the World Food Programme, the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense, and the DSWD, to help affected families recover and rebuild.” 

The US government earlier provided P13.8 million ($250,000) in funding that supported WFP in delivering 47,700 DSWD family food packs that benefited over 200,000 persons across Northern and Central Luzon. 

US military air assets, alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines, also supported Philippine-led operations to deliver 6,300 DSWD food packs for 18,000 persons in Batanes.