International orgs send help to Abra earthquake victims

Some foreign and international organizations delivered assistance to the victims of the magnitude 7 earthquake, the Civil Defense - Cordillera said Friday.

These include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nation’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance.

“The Cordillera [Regional Risk-Reduction Management Council] extends its gratitude to various international organizations for sending help and relief items to the communities affected by the [magnitude] 7.0 earthquake in Northwestern Luzon,” the Civil Defense - Cordillera said in a statement.

Members of the council’s response clusters headed  by the Department of Social Welfare and Development - Cordillera will coordinate with these groups for the distribution of the assistance.

USAID, IOM

In a statement, the US Embassy in the Philippines said USAID and IOM are sending 3,000 shelter-grade tarps to support the Philippine government's response efforts.

“These tarps will provide much-needed shelter to affected communities in Northern Luzon,” it said.

As of Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said six people were killed, four were missing, and 136 were injured due to the earthquake.

A total of 5,819 individuals or 1,622 families were staying inside 26 evacuation centers, while 1,512 people or 360 families were staying outside evacuation centers, it added. — RSJ, GMA News