USAID offers aid to Mayon refugees

A temporary evacuation center situation in Lower Binogsacan Elementary School. Evacuees stayed in the shelter for almost five (5) days already.Evacuees are from the Barangay of Muladbucad Grande, Guinobatan, Albay which belong to 6-km danger zone of Mayon Volcano. PHOTO BY MARK ALVIC ESPLANA / Inquirer Southern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines—Ahead of the possible eruption of Mayon volcano, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has expressed its support for the preparedness measures being put in place to help displaced families from the danger zone.

“The US stands ready to help families cope with the challenges posed by their temporary displacement,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said in a statement released by the US embassy Wednesday.

Around P4.4 million worth of emergency sanitation, hygiene and non-food items has been provided for the estimated 12,000 families living in evacuation shelters in municipalities of Guinobatan, Camalig, and Daraga, Albay.

The humanitarian assistance provided by USAID and distributed by World Vision will help the refugees get safe drinking water, functioning latrines, and temporary classrooms.

“The US Government will continue to monitor the Mayon situation and work with Philippine authorities to help the affected families,” Goldberg said.

He also commended the “orderly and successful pre-emptive evacuation” of the local residents from the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone led by Albay Governor Joey Salceda.

Mayon has been placed under alert level 3 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology after several days of continuous volcanic activity.

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