WHO Grants Emergency Health Assistance to Mindanao

MANILA – The World Health Organization (WHO) will be providing about 15 million pesos as emergency assistance to the health needs of displaced populations in Mindanao. The assistance will cover three months of emergency response and will benefit the displaced populations until they go back and rebuild their communities.

The recent conflict between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and government forces threatened communities in southern Philippines, including the predominantly Muslim provinces in Mindanao. This resulted in 107 224 families (511 090 persons) being displaced during the height of the conflict. As of 28 September, 13 231 families (65 473 persons) were still being sheltered in 104 evacuation centres.

The WHO assistance was made possible through UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This will benefit 38 000 families in evacuation areas and in communities. It will provide essential medicines and medical supplies, continued health services, and ensure safe water quality and access.

”Evacuees are vulnerable to diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory tract infection that may be acquired because of crowding and less than ideal environmental conditions in temporary shelters,” said Dr Soe Nyunt-U, WHO Representative to the Philippines. “Outbreaks may even aggravate the current situations and result in increased morbidity and mortality. We have to make sure that essential health services, especially for pregnant women, children, adolescents and the elderly, are available.”

Coordination of health activities will be implemented through the Philippines Department of Health, local and international NGOs, and local government units. Essential needs for food, psychosocial support, reproductive health, safe water and sanitation, and protection of displaced families will be taken cared of by other UN agencies.

According to Dr Art Pesigan, of the WHO Western Pacific Region, protection of the lives and health of displaced persons is a high priority. Further illnesses and suffering should be prevented by improving the health of these families who may have already lost their houses and livelihood.