MANILA, (PNA) — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) mobilized about 122 staff and volunteers to conduct rescue, assessment and relief operations in different quake-stricken areas of Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and Siquijor.
More than 444,000 families from 1,664 barangays were affected by the 7.2 magnitude quake that hit Visayas and the PRC is deploying more as necessary to accommodate all.
Hot meals were provided by the PRC Bohol chapter to 3,000 persons in evacuation centers since Thursday while food items were readied for immediate distribution.
PRC Chairman Richard Dick Gordon and Secretary General Dr. Gwendolyn Pang joined the Red Cross teams in Bohol for a post-earthquake assessment and planning for humanitarian action with Red Cross movement partners.
“We are to send additional teams from Manila and other nearby chapters to augment the operations,” Gordon said in a statement.
An additional five PRC assessment teams were sent to Bohol together with two Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) teams.
A team each for health, psychosocial, water and sanitation, camp management and tracing and restoring family links (RFL) were also sent to Bohol.
The PRC is also encouraging the public to help by volunteering and donate to assist victims and be vigilant on alerts and other reports within the affected areas.