Maica, a 22-year old mother, and her family flee from the landslide at Barangay Sugal in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. She shares this makeshift tent along the road in Barangay Sugal with her 2-year old son, husband, parents and siblings. Originally from Sitio Kibayo, Maica and her family are among the 25 Manobo-B’laan families who now found temporary shelter on the side of the road in Barangay Sugal, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
Rene, a 32-year old farm worker who lives in Sitio Katinggan, an upland village in Barangay Nuing, JAS, has also set up his family’s makeshift dwelling along the municipal road. He shares a temporary tent made of tarps and used sacks together with 4 families. A landslide devastated their village and they have nowhere else to go. Because it’s unsafe to go back to farm work, he currently relies on relief goods for their daily consumption.
Gina’s1 family is among the 30 Muslim Sangil families who relocated along the road of Barangay Sugal, JAS. They live in the mountainous part of the barangay which was affected by a landslide due to the strong earthquake. During the earthquake, the men and women in their village quickly grabbed their children and ran to safety. They were not able to bring anything else with them, and they can no longer go back to their village because it has become a dangerous terrain. Moreover, the landslides blocked the river in between mountains, thus posing high risk for flashfloods. Some children now suffer from diarrhea, stomach pain, and cough and colds. The Muslim women are particularly requesting for hijab/tendong/veil/head scarf. Prayer mats will also be appreciated.
Update
The powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred last June 8 resulted to landslides in the mountains of Barangay Sugal in Jose Abad Santos (JAS). As of June 20, seven people have died, 13 remain missing, and 40 individuals were injured in JAS. Among the fatalities, three were recorded in Barangay Nuing, two in Camalian, one in Bukid, and one in Barangay Sugal.
A total of 668 households or 3,349 individuals are currently displaced in Barangay Sugal, JAS2. The evacuees are in need of continuous support for daily subsistence and basic services. Potable water, sleeping kits, mosquito nets, and medicines are among the most urgent needs as per our community interviews and assessments.
Meanwhile, local authorities warned about a potential risk of destructive flashfloods. The Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) in JAS issued an urgent warning on Tuesday, June 16, saying that “Based on our visual assessment, the earthquake-induced river blockage is a ticking bomb”.
BFP-JAS cited that the continuous rainfall has caused water to pool rapidly behind soil and rocks debris. Also, the dam is not reinforced and the water pressure continues to build which might eventually lead for the barrier to break or collapse. The continuing aftershocks may also trigger a sudden collapse which will lead to a sudden flash flood, with a powerful surge carrying debris of logs, mud, and large rocks. Preemptive evacuations have been undertaken, according to local authorities.
Maica, Rene, and hundreds of families in JAS currently rely on relief goods and humanitarian support for their daily subsistence. Potable water, sleeping kits, medical services, and other essentials are still needed.
MINCODE, AADC, other MINCODE Members, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Cooperatives, Foundations, and other civic groups and individuals continue to respond to this humanitarian crisis.
If you are able, please help in any way you can.
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Footnotes:
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