FLEEING DANGER Residents retrace a pathway submerged by the swollen Tandag River in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, as they seek safer ground during the onslaught of Tropical Storm Auring on Sunday. —ERWIN MASCARIÑAS
COTABATO CITY—- Moro residents of Tandag City in Surigao del Sur affected by Typhoon Auring have started receiving food and non-food items which were sent as relief goods by the Bangsamoro government, officials said Saturday.
Huge cargo trucks loaded with 5,500 relief packs left Cotabato City Friday morning after send-off ceremonies headed by Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, Interior and Local Governments Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo, and Social Services and Development Minister Raissa H. Jajurie.
Speaking to reporters, Sinarimbo said the regional government will continuously help the Bangsamoro people affected by calamities, even those outside the region’s territory.
“We are conducting direct distribution today, Saturday, for the Bangsamoro people there, the rest of the assistance will be channeled to the local government of Tandag City,” he added.
“We empathize with our fellow men and women affected by typhoon Auring because we know how difficult it is when you are displaced by natural calamities,” Sinarimbo said.
Sinarimbo added that they have identified roughly 200 Bangsamoro families in the area who were affected by the typhoon.
Reports say that about 10,000 families or 30,650 individuals in the different towns and cities of Surigao del Sur province were affected by Auring on Feb. 21.
BARMM’s Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), in coordination with the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) and Ministry of Health (MOH), led the relief operation for the victims.
Relief packs from READi contain 10 kilos of rice and 10 pieces of canned goods; sleeping kits from MSSD which include mats, mosquito nets, and blankets; hygiene kits from MOH that include bath and face towels, toothpaste, bottles of alcohol, and shampoo, laundry detergent, bath soaps, sanitary napkins, and pails with cover.