Humanitarian crisis

THE series of flashfloods that hit Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental has reached humanitarian crisis proportions on Thursday.

Figures at the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Coordinating Council showed the disaster has affected 16,104 families or 83,321 individuals jampacked in various evacuation centers in 47 barangays or more than half of the city's 80 barangays.

Another fatality was reported on Thursday bringing the total number of dead in Wednesday’s flashflood to three.

Raminie Cabatuan, 17 years old , a resident of Barangay Dansolihon, this city, drowned while trying to cross a river along with four others last Jan. 14.

His body was found Thursday afternoon in Pigsag-an river, according to reports reaching the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Coordinating Council.

Disaster officials said as of 5p.m. Thursday, more than 313 houses were totally destroyed by the flash floods while 640 houses have been partially damaged by flash floods and big waves since Sunday.

The figures could run higher. A check by Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro with Barangay Canitoan officials showed discrepancy in the reporting.

Fe Daayata, City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), said 54 houses were totally damaged in Barangay Canitoan not three as reported by the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Coordinating Council.

The disaster agency have placed the initial damages to crops and livestocks at P250 million.

Congestion

Barangay halls and schools that were converted into evacuation centers for the thousands of affected residents are now congested.

City Director Emil Rana of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said congested evacuation centers are something to worry for possible outbreak of diseases.

Daayata said Canitoan Elementary School only has ten toilets for 974 families or 3,263 persons who have taken shelter there.

"Ang problema gyud namo sa pagkakaron kay ang mga bata sa mga evacuees, bisan asa lang mangalibang. Every day, we announce it to the evacuees para dili sila mangasakit. Hapit na baya ni sila magsemana dinhi (The problem is children in the evacuation centers just defecate anywhere. We remind them every day about this to avoid outbreak of diseases. They are here for almost a week now)," Daayata said.

Ferminda Dadol, a midwife of the City Health Office, said some of the toilet facilities at the school were already destroyed or damaged.

Dabol said many of the evacuees have run out of toothpaste, toothbrush, diapers and soaps.

She said doctors from the City Health Office came to provide medical checkups and provided sodium hypochlorite to ensure that the drinking water is safe.

Livelihood

Big waves continue to batter the coastline of Cagayan de Oro on Thursday and barangay officials are worried about the livelihood of thousands of residents who depend on fishing.

Jackie Lynne Biongco barangay council member of Barangay Bonbon said many of her constituents tried to go fishing Thursday but turned back due to the big waves.

She said more than 200 Bonbon residents rely on fishing as their livelihood.

Gomer Galanida, a fisherman said he only wished he have a small sari-sari store to augment his income.

Relief aid

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro arrived on Thursday and promised local government officials that a Philippine Air Force C130 bringing tons of relief goods will arrive Friday.

Mayor Constantino Jaraula asked for blankets and sleeping mats telling Teodoro that the local government and donations from residents and private companies have aptly provided the food requirements of the evacuees.

"I can see that the local government is on top of the situation. Aayudahan lang namin ang city government in terms of relief goods," Teodoro said.

He said the government can handle the humanitarian crisis at hand. (Annabelle L. Ricalde, Cong B. Corrales, and Lynde Salgados of Sunstar Cagayan de Oro)

Source: Sunstar Daily