At least 22 fatalities were confirmed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) after a series of three magnitude 6 quakes hit Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat starting in the past weeks.
Meanwhile, according to the same NDRRMC tally, 432 people have been hurt and two are still missing. Over 25,000 people are currently reeling from the effects of the quake, half of them taking temporary refuge at evacuation centers.
20,957 houses were destroyed and 6,888 others damaged in the Davao region, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by last week’s two quakes, an Inquirer report said.
Some victims have taken it to themselves to search for food and shelter in Cotabato. Carrying placards, they beg for help from passing motorists in highways.
The national disaster council head Ricardo Jalad has since denied the existence of a humanitarian crisis in Mindanao, citing the continuous relief operations and the functioning market where victims with money can purchase food. But what about those who don’t have the purchasing power?
Many organizations inside and outside of Mindanao have called out for donations for the victims, and you too can help through donating and/or volunteering. Here are some of the ways how.
Philippine Red Cross
Caritas Manila
Gabriela Women’s Party
Gawad Kalinga
Save the Children Philippines
Rotaract Club of Metro Kidapawan
Citizens’ Disaster Response Center
University of the Philippines
— UPV PALABAN (@upv_palaban) November 1, 2019
Ateneo de Manila University
Association of Law Students of the Philippines
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Header photo courtesy of the Philippine Information Agency
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