CAGAYAN DE ORO City, April 3, 2012—The International Organization for Migration (IOM) had distributed P1.3 million worth of badly-needed Shelter Repair Kits (SRKs) to 205 families whose homes have been damaged by the deluge brought by Typhoon Sendong (TS Washi) nine days before Christmas day last year.
Each beneficiary-family received P7,000 worth of SRK from the IOM.
The distribution of the SKR took place at the Macanhan covered court.
“Kini nga mga materyales nga gihatag sa IOM igo-igo lang gyud nga makapatindog mi pagbalik sa among gamay’ng payag (These materials given by IOM is just enough for us to construct a small house),” said Danilo Oponi.
Oponi said he is very thankful to IOM for its help and that he is very happy that despite the tragedy, humanitarian and aid agencies such as IOM are there to help him and others like him get back on their feet.
IOM, which was established in 1951, is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. It is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
As the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) “Cluster” lead agency for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) in Natural Disasters, IOM immediately deployed teams to assess needs in evacuation centres, displacement sites and other affected communities days after TS Washi devastated Cagayan de Oro City and neighboring Iligan City.
IOM also participated in a joint assessment mission with government line agencies led by the Office of Civil Defense and the Mindanao Humanitarian Team (MHT).
At present, IOM has distributed to the Sendong Survivors a total of P11 million worth of SRKs aside from other relief, emergency and humanitarian assistance since last year.
“Pasalamat ko’g dako sa IOM kay nakatabang gyud sila sa mga pobre (I am very thankful to IOM for their help),” said Wilma Sabuero, whose house was partially damaged when TS Washi struck on the night of December 16, 2011.
Myrna Labajo, like other beneficiaries, received 10 plywoods, 5 pieces of 2X4wood, 15 pieces of 2X2, 3 kilos of nails, a hammer, saw and roof sealant.
“Nalipay kaayo ko kay maayo na gyud tawn among gubaong balay (I am very happy for at last we can finally repair our damaged house),” she said.
Labajo said she has an edge over her neighbors because her husband is a construction worker and is also doing carpentry works so it will be easy for them to repair their partially damaged house with IOM’s SRK.
IOM, which serves as the co-lead with the DSWD in the IASC Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster, is currently improving conditions in evacuation centres and transition sites by providing privacy partitions, bed kits, latrines, bathing cubicles, multi-purpose halls and cooking counters, aside from distributing SRKs and essential non-food relief items to displaced families to allow them to leave evacuation centres and return to their homes.
Recently, IOM completed the construction of 75 bunkhouses in the Lumbia relocation site. The project provided short-term employment to almost 200 people from evacuation centres and host communities through a cash-for-work program. (Bong D. Fabe)
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