Humanitarian org sets up child-friendly spaces in evacuation centers

Photo: Save The Children Philippines

The Philippine chapter of international humanitarian organization Save the Children has set up mobile child-friendly spaces in evacuation centers for children affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

In a press release Thursday, the non-profit organization said that the mobile spaces are an avenue for games, storytelling, art and reading activities that will help ease the children's psychosocial stress and aid their emotional well-being.

"The children we've spoken to told us that missing out on school is their biggest concern," Jerome Balinton, humanitarian manager of the Save the Children Philippines, said in a statement.

"Setting up two child-friendly spaces in the affected areas staffed by childcare professionals, where children can learn and play while receiving emotional support to help them cope with their distress," he added.

Save the Children Philippines said it will also distribute family hygiene kits, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets and face masks for the evacuees in the days to come.

The organization also stressed that even in the evacuation centers there is a need for food, water, health care and latrines. It also reported that emerging health concerns among children in these centers include respiratory problems, fever, headaches, coughs, colds, and the risk of pneumonia.

300K affected

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's (NDRRMC) report says that as of 12 p.m. Thursday, 68,638 persons in Batangas, Cavite and Laguna have been affected by Taal Volcano's eruption, with 57,286 of these taking temporary shelter in 257 evacuation centers.

Save the Children, however, believes that the number of affected has been underreported. Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority's population data, the organization said that the eruption may have forced 300,000 residents of six towns in Batangas—Agoncillo, Laurel, Talisay, Lemery, Taal and San Nicolas—to flee their homes.

Of this number, which the organization is expecting to rise, Balinton said that about 124,000 are children.

"The sudden displacement of so many people is putting enormous strain on host communities," he said.

Alert Level 4 remained in Taal Volcano as hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days.

Cavite and Batangas, the provinces most hit by the ash fall caused by the eruption, have already been already placed under state of calamity. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News