Toll in Zambo shelter deaths rises to 101, mostly kids

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—More evacuees are dying in shelters here that were set up for residents displaced in the terror attack by the followers of Moro leader Nur Misuari and the government operation to flush them out.

Most of those who died due to diseases are children.

“It is unforgivable that children are dying in evacuation centers,” said Lany de la Cruz, communications officer of international organization Save the Children.

De la Cruz said what was more saddening was the causes of deaths of the evacuees—diarrhea, acute respiratory infection and neonatal complications—were preventable.

Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, said health authorities had recorded a total of 101 deaths at San Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex and Cawa-Cawa shoreline, which were used as evacuation centers, from Sept. 9, 2013, to March 16 this year.

Of the number, at least 49 are children who are under 5 years old.

“Diarrhea is the leading cause of mortality for children under 5 years,” Agbulos said.

Agbulos also said dengue cases were up in the evacuation centers, with 76 cases recorded since January.

Cases of tuberculosis, an infectious disease, has also been reported in the evacuation camps, according to Agbulos.

Asked why the deaths continue, Agbulos said the lack of sanitation could be partly to blame, citing the case of the Cawa-Cawa evacuation site that has “only one or two portalets.”

He said that with the identification of two possible relocation sites in the villages of Mampang and Arena Blanco, the Cawa-Cawa shoreline and the sports complex would be “decongested,” and the deaths could be stopped.

De la Cruz said international humanitarian agencies, including Save the Children, had been helping local agencies to prevent the spread of diseases in evacuation centers.

She said the health cluster teams should “not to wait for the IDPs (internally displaced persons) to approach and seek medical help.”

“They (health cluster teams) should be the ones going around extending medical support,” De la Cruz said. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao