Seven quake-affected evacuees die in evacuation center

NORTH COTABATO- At least seven internally displaced persons including minors succumbed to illness the past month while being housed at the evacuation center in Kidapawan City,

Salmer Bernalte, Kidapawan City disaster risk reduction management officer, said the fatalities succumbed to severe respiratory disease including coughs, colds and lost bowel movement brought about by vulnerabilities to heat and cold weather  while staying at the makeshift shelter at the evacuation center in the hinterland village of Barangay Ilomavis, Kidapawan City.

The fatalities were identified as Modesto Bayawan, Bernabe Damali, Junior Laman, Jun Laman, aged 60 years above and minors  Reyame Madiandang, 14 Aya Ocosan and Brix Mallari, who are both two years old.

Bernalte said the local government of Kidapawan City is still catering to some 1,200 evacuees housed at the evacuation center after their houses were affected by a series of earthquakes that hit Mindanao region in October and November last year.     

He said the city government is still awaiting advice from the  Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau that will ensure the safe return of evacuees to their villages which were affected by cracks and landslides caused by the earthquakes. 

“We’re still awaiting the advice of MGB personnel who are conducting assessment on the landslide and cracks in the quake affected villages,” Bernalte said.  

City social welfare and development officer Daisy Gaviola said the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other relief organizations had distributed tents to the evacuees at the evacuation center in a bid to provide convenient shelters for the displaced residents.   

Kidapawan said City Mayor Joseph Evangelista has ordered the fasttracking of the construction of some 50 housing units at the relocation area near the evacuation center which are scheduled for turnover next week to the evacuees..