2.1 million families affected by typhoon Yolanda

(DSWD) November 10, 2013 -  The number of families affected by typhoon Yolanda as of noon, November 10, has reached the two million mark, composed of 9.53 million persons as Local Government Units (LGUs) from Regions IV-A and B, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, and CARAGA continue to assess the extent of the disaster.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that as of 12 noon, the number of families affected by typhoon Yolanda has reached the two million mark  composed of 9.53 million persons as Local Government Units (LGUs) from Regions IV-A and B, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, and CARAGA continue to assess the extent of the disaster.

Some 96,039 displaced families with 449,416 persons are staying in 1,790 evacuation centers, while 36,627 other families with 182,379 persons temporarily sought shelter in their friends and relatives’ houses.

DSWD has initially extended 10.6 million worth of relief assistance to Bicol region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and CARAGA.

In Tacloban City, DSWD, in coordination with the local government,  set up a satellite internet service at the city hall to enable the public to communicate with their relatives.

Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Corazon Juliano-Soliman personally led the distribution of relief packs in the city yesterday.

“The relief operations are hampered by lack of communication and inaccessibility of the worst-hit towns, cities and barangays, but we from DSWD and other government agencies are doing our best to reach the affected population,” Secretary Soliman emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Secretary thanked the 1,906 volunteers from all walks of life who trooped to the DSWD-National Resource Operations Center (NROC) to assist in the repacking of relief goods since November 7.

“We are expecting more volunteers during the weekend when there is no work or school. Some are regular volunteers who have been helping out at NROC every time there is a disaster,” the Secretary stated.

Volunteers in the Visayas can go to the DSWD Field Offices in Iloilo and Cebu preferably during daytime.