MANILA- Demonstrating solidarity, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Response formally turned over relief goods and other items for people displaced by the heavy fighting in Marawi City Friday.
The items consists of 600 family tents, 600 family kits, more than 3,000 personal hygiene kits, 600 kitchen sets and four water filtration units and were formally turned over by AHA Centre acting executive director Adelina Kamal to Task Force "Bangon Marawi" executive director and defense undersecretary Cesar B. Yano during short ceremonies at Laguindingan Airport, Misamis Oriental.
AHA Centre is ASEAN's coordinating center for humanitarian assistance on disaster management.
These items and equipment are scheduled to be transported to Iligan City for distribution to Marawi residents displaced by the fighting which started May 23.
Also present were Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo, and Office of Civil Defense officer-In-charge Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James E. Purisima.
AHA assistance to the Philippines is in accordance with the One ASEAN, One Response declaration signed on September 2016.
The declaration is based on the principle of harnessing the individual and collective strengths of different sectors and stakeholders in ASEAN to effectively respond to disasters within and beyond the region.
It is also in accordance with the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), which is the main regional framework for cooperation, coordination, technical assistance, and resource mobilization in all aspects of disaster management.
Today we witness the realization of One ASEAN One Response. In the spirit of ASEAN solidarity, we are supporting the Government and the people of the Philippines in the form of ASEAN relief items. This is one of those moments where the vision of One ASEAN One Response is no longer an imagination but a realisation, Kamal stressed.
Task Force "Bangon Marawi" has initiated efforts for the comprehensive recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of affected communities.
Meanwhile, in the latest report gathered by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operations Center, 5,055 families/ 27,335 persons are housed in 89 evacuation centers while 98,846 families/442,981 persons are staying in friends or relatives.
AHA Centre has been a very excellent partner of the NDRRMC in dealing with the major incidents that have happened in past, offering and sending support and assistance. Their donation would contribute, in no small measure, to the success of our post-disaster operations, Yano stressed.
Source: Philippine News Agency