US allots US $ 600,000 aid to displace residents in Zamboanga

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 13): US allots US $ 600,000 aid to displace residents in Zamboanga

The government of the United States of Americahas allocated US $ 600,000 ( P 25 million) to acquire food, medicines,and basic necessities to the some 16,000 displaced individuals in the southwestern city of Zamboanga.

Sarah Matalam, site contact person, of the United States of Agency for International Development, said on Friday that the five-day intermittent armed clashes in ZamboangaCity has made life there miserable.

“The present condition in ZamboangaCity was very difficult to bear considering that food, water supply,and basic necessities became scarce in the area,” Matalam said.

She said that thousands of evacuees, mostly children, the elderly, and the pregnant women had been cramped in various evacuation centers without adequate food and water supplies.

“In an expression of concern for the well-being of the people of Zamboanga, the USembassy is responding to the immediate needs of 16,000 citizens displaced by the on-going crisis situation in several areas of the city,” Matalam added.

She said that the first batch of relief goods was delivered on Friday consisting of blankets, sleeping pads, baby diapers, bottled water and canned sardines.

Part of the USassistance would include installation of latrines (portable toilets) and water tanks in the area to help provide evacuees with access to clean drinking water, Matalam said.

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