DSWD: UN aid work may resume in south next week
07/10/2009 | 08:44 AM
MANILA, Philippines - After suspending aid work there due to security concerns, the United Nations may resume its food program in southern Philippines as early as this coming week, a Malacañang official said.
In a radio interview Friday, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the UN will assess the situation this coming week and see if it is safe enough to resume operations.
"Sabi nila next week ia-assess nila kung pwede na uli silang magbigay ng tulong at kung pwede na babalik na sila roon [They said they will assess the situation next week. If it is safe enough they will return to the field]," Cabral said in an interview on dzXL radio.
The UN temporarily suspended food distribution for hundreds of thousands of people displaced by violence in Mindanao following a string of deadly bombings there.
Last Sunday, a bomb blast near a cathedral in Cotabato City killed at least six people. On Tuesday, a bombing in Iligan City wounded several people while another bombing in Jolo town in Sulu province on the same day killed two civilians.
Security officials have blamed the Abu Sayyaf, a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Jemaam Islamiyah for the deadly explosions.
Food program
Under the UNWFP program, each family of evacuees is entitled to get a relief good package that includes 25 kilos of rice, five kilos of oil, five kilos of mongo beans, and biscuits.
Cabral said the DSWD is now working with other government agencies to fill the gap caused by the suspension of the UN program.
She said there are at least 23,000 families now in evacuation centers, and some 23,000 families more outside evacuation centers who are living with friends and relatives.
In the meantime, Cabral said government social workers are coordinating with the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to secure the social workers.
"Nakikipagugnayan kami sa AFP at PNP so ang DND ang nagbibigay ng security sa aming mga tauhan [We are coordinating with the AFP and PNP so the DND is giving security to our field workers]," she said. - GMANews.TV
In a radio interview Friday, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the UN will assess the situation this coming week and see if it is safe enough to resume operations.
"Sabi nila next week ia-assess nila kung pwede na uli silang magbigay ng tulong at kung pwede na babalik na sila roon [They said they will assess the situation next week. If it is safe enough they will return to the field]," Cabral said in an interview on dzXL radio.
The UN temporarily suspended food distribution for hundreds of thousands of people displaced by violence in Mindanao following a string of deadly bombings there.
Last Sunday, a bomb blast near a cathedral in Cotabato City killed at least six people. On Tuesday, a bombing in Iligan City wounded several people while another bombing in Jolo town in Sulu province on the same day killed two civilians.
Security officials have blamed the Abu Sayyaf, a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Jemaam Islamiyah for the deadly explosions.
Food program
Under the UNWFP program, each family of evacuees is entitled to get a relief good package that includes 25 kilos of rice, five kilos of oil, five kilos of mongo beans, and biscuits.
Cabral said the DSWD is now working with other government agencies to fill the gap caused by the suspension of the UN program.
She said there are at least 23,000 families now in evacuation centers, and some 23,000 families more outside evacuation centers who are living with friends and relatives.
In the meantime, Cabral said government social workers are coordinating with the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to secure the social workers.
"Nakikipagugnayan kami sa AFP at PNP so ang DND ang nagbibigay ng security sa aming mga tauhan [We are coordinating with the AFP and PNP so the DND is giving security to our field workers]," she said. - GMANews.TV
