Victims of Marawi conflict receive US relief assistance

Water containers donated by the USAID are distributed to locals affected by the Marawi conflict. PHOTO COURTESY OF US EMBASSY IN MANILA

The Philippine government has received health and education relief assistance from the United States (US) to benefit affected residents in Marawi City.

The US embassy on Wednesday said the US government, with the help of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), distributed 12,000 water containers and 96,000 chlorine tablets to 12,000 families currently staying in evacuation sites in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan City.

The USAID also facilitated the delivery of much-needed anti-tuberculosis drugs and supplies to evacuation centers and provided more than 6,000 desks for use by displaced children in temporary learning spaces, the embassy added.

“USAID supports peace and community development in Mindanao through 25 ongoing projects that improve local governance, strengthen the government’s capacity to deliver services, especially in health and education, and promote civic engagement,” the embassy said.

On Monday, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said 40 home-based Marawi evacuees died.

Twenty percent are caused by complications from gastroenteritis, 15 percent are due to pneumonia, and 12.5 percent due to sepsis, Ubial said.

“The United States and the Philippines are longstanding friends, partners and allies. We will continue to coordinate with the Philippine government on ways to provide relief to families affected by this conflict,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said. JPV