International Non-Government Organizations (INGO) from United Nation assembled at Trento, Agusan del Sur last December 27. These INGOs form a cluster for Shelter, Food and Education to give support the Provincial Government for the rehabilitation program of the affected municipalities of Agusan del Sur by the Typhoon Pablo.
There are five major municipalities included on the rehabilitation program, Bunawan, Trento, Sta. Josefa, Veruela.
The UN-INGOs will make a center in Trento where the relief goods will be dropped on that place and distributed to other affected municipalities.
The Shelter cluster headed by the UN-International Organization for Migration (UN-IOM) pursue on imposing an emergency shelter program for the victims, immediately. Based on IOM’s standard, the shelter should not make its occupants feel very hot in the morning and too cold at night.
Mr. Mariano P. Nava of UN-IOM presided the meeting on the shelter program with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) heads from different affected municipalities, the Chief of Staff of Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, Regional Department of Social Welfare and Development Crisis Intervention Unit Head and UNICEF representatives.
“This is not like Typhoon Sendong’s effect, it is the combination of Typhoon Ondoy and Sendong,” as Mr. Mariono described the effect of Typhoon Pablo.
Aside on the disaster made by Typhoon Pablo, the shelter program faced another problem and that is the distance between other houses.
“Unlike the Sendong, we can compress the people and relocate them easily- but not in here” he added along the discussion.
MSWD’s found it a big challenge and should be resolved with their next meeting.
Mr. Jess Far, Chief Protection Specialist from UNICEF shared his other concerns regarding on the shelter program. He emphasized that the shelter program should be implemented as soon as possible.
According to Mr. Jess, without the shelter it could be a reason to create a human trafficking because crime syndicates will use this opportunity.
“We should monitor the migration of the people of the affected municipalities especially the children who are prone to this kind of activity (human trafficking),” he added on his talk.
Human trafficking is very rampant on this kind of situation and mostly will accept even the smallest offer that a crime syndicate can offer.
All the concerns raised on the said meeting will be carried this coming January 3, 2013 meeting that will be held in Trento, Agusan del Sur.
