US provides relief aid to displaced families in Marawi

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 19): US provides relief aid to displaced families in Marawi

The United States government has provided critical health and education services to thousands of civilians displaced by the ongoing conflict in Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur province.

The US government said in a statement Wednesday that it provided access to potable water by distributing 12,000 jerry cans (water containers) and 96,000 chlorine tablets to 12,000 families housed in evacuation centers in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and in Iligan City.

The Philippine government has established 78 evacuation centers housing thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The USAID is also providing support to help stop the spread of infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis (TB) in the evacuation centers.

With the help of local partners and the Philippine Department of Health, USAID facilitated the delivery of much-needed anti-TB drugs and supplies to evacuation centers, allowing patients to continue their strict medical regimen.

Patients with confirmed cases receive free medical treatment from the Philippine government.

USAID, through one of its ongoing education projects, has also supplied more than 6,000 desks for use by displaced children in temporary learning spaces.

“The United States and the Philippines are longstanding friends, partners and allies,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said in a statement.

“We will continue to coordinate with the Philippine government on ways to provide relief to families affected by this conflict,” the U.S. ambassador said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1001739