Dapat Ready | World Vision aids 2,000 families in Albay

Child-focused aid organization World Vision begins its relief operation to displaced families affected by the ongoing brunt of Mayon Volcano. Around 2,000 families or more than 7,000 individuals who fled to evacuation centres in Guinobatan, Albay were provided with relief items including hygiene kits (bath and laundry soaps, toothbrushes and toothpastes, sanitary packs, nailcutters, underwears and malong), non-food items (mosquito net, blanket and mat).

“I like the malong and the soaps most. Our family is running out of soap,” 12-year old Kristia says who has been staying in the evacuation centers for two weeks now. Most evacuees now rely on aid after their livelihoods, mostly farming, were disrupted by the volcanic activity. Kristia’s family is also one of the thousands of families who evacuated in 2014 after Mayon showed unrest.

World Vision ambassador Marc Nelson who visited the evacuees in Albay shares, “The Mayon evacuees I met have been living in these centers for weeks now, groups of 50 people packed into small elementary classrooms, still dealing with ash fall, respiratory illnesses, suspension of work and school, and not knowing when they can return home. And yet I saw so many smiles and moments of happiness, and how each person came together to help each other in such a strong sense of community.”

As of February 3, some 21,723 families are affected, 18,231 of whom are in 69 evacuation centers, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Mayon volcano is still on Alert level 4, which means that a hazardous eruption of the volcano is anticipated. The Mayon seismic monitoring network recorded 117 volcanic earthquakes and 10 tremor events. Ashfall also continues to threaten the affected families, especially the children who are vulnerable to respiratory diseases.

“Our team will continue distributing emergency essentials. We continue to urge partners and donors to stand with us in these relief efforts,” says Rommel Fuerte, World Vision’s National Director. World Vision, in the next days, will distribute drinking water and facial masks. World Vision/February 2, 2018