World Vision and Partners respond to emergency needs of quake survivors

After three succeeding earthquakes in Mindanao last October, World Vision set a relief operation to give assistance to the affected families of Kidapawan City, Makilala, and Tulunanin Northern Cotabato. Such a good initiative to share love and care to our brothers and sisters.

In addition to the efforts of our local government, World Vision brought non-food supplies such as:

• hygiene kits (bath and laundry soaps, toothbrushes and toothpastes, sanitary packs, nail cutter, undergarments and malong or tube skirt)
• jerry cans
• mosquito net
• mats
• blankets
• emergency shelter kits (tarp and rope)

World Vision has focused its efforts to address the special needs of children affected by the quake. Interventions such as child-friendly spaces temporarily learning centers provided children with psychosocial support and a ssafe place to learn and play.

As of November 12, World Vision has reached at least 947 affected families with emergency shelter kits, hygiene kits (459 in the city of Kidapawan and 488 in the Municipality of Tulunan), 602 affected children with psychosocial support through child-friendly spaces in school-based evacuation centers in the City of Kidapawan, and 354 school children with 2 temporary learning spaces in their affected school in the Municipality of Makilala.

With the help of generous individuals and companies like Owndays Philippines, J&J, Emerson, Nexus, and RichMedia Inc., the aim to assist 1000 families or 5000 individuals will soon be achieved.

More Help is Needed

Bringing help to the hard-hit earthquake sites are not without challenges. In Tulunan, Wolrld Vision Response team had to brave the landslide-prone areas in order to reach the survivors including the indigenous tribe B'laan.

"Everyday since the quake, we had to walk at least two hours to go here and wait for help," said 5-month pregnant Chona. She leaves her makeshift shelter at 6 o'clock in the morning and goes back around 4 in the afternoon, depending on the schedule of relief distributions.

"Analiza, another B'laan from a different sitio shared, "We have no choice but to do this. Most of us are farm workers, but our farms were damaged not only by the quake but by the landslides. It's not easy."

While help has reached some of the quake-affected families, challenges remain to rebuild their communities, and to start with their lives anew.

"Thank you for partnering with us as we help Filipinos affected by the Mindanao earthquake. Much needs to be done and we hope that God will continue to enable us to help reach the most vulnerable children and communities," says World Vision Executive Director Rommel Fuerte.

To know more about World Vision's work and how to help our fellow people affected by the Mindanao Earthquake, please visit https://wvph.co/DonateForCotabato. You may also call World Vision at (02) 8372-7777 or (0917) 866-4824.

For more information and updates, you may follow @worldvisionph on Facebook and @worldvisionphl on Instagram.