CATIGBIAN, Bohol, (PNA) -– Trauma, fear and loss of lives and property left in wreckage as a result of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake still gripped the disaster-laden people of Bohol.
It’s almost three weeks after the disaster struck, some 90,000 or more internally displaced families (IDF) still remain in makeshift tents provided by the donors and the local government units of the province.
Estimates of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) revealed that the affected residents in the whole of Bohol could reach as many as 400,000 of the 1.2 million population if the number of municipalities affected is any gauge.
In barangay Baang of this hinterland town, for instance, some 245 IDFs from nearby Barangay Bagtic still remain in tents as their temporary shelters with hundreds of children who experienced the same feeling of fear even during the post-tremor because of aftershocks, church evacuees coordinator Avelina Guille said in an interview. And another hundreds of evacuees from other neighboring barangays found their way in elementary school grounds.
In a recent visit here, a group of GMA 7 disaster workers conducted debriefing sessions for the children in play, story-telling and other related activities in Baang parochial Plaza, where their church is also in ruins due to earthquake, Guille said.
Debriefing is a form of “emergency intervention to help people who have recently experienced major loss or suffering” from calamities such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and other form extreme situations and discomfort, property damage, or loss of friends and loved ones. It is intended “to reduce the likelihood of post traumatic stress disorder, or other psychological problems. It is also called as “Critical Incident Stress Debriefing,” Wikipedia explains.
PDRRMC has included this intervention and it is one of the on-going activities being lined up to help alleviate, not only the biological needs but also of the psychological. This is conducted by Lakbay Kalinga from Manila in Sagbayan, Loon and Tubigon, according to the council’s report presented by Gov. Edgar Chatto during the recent weekly press conference at the governor’s mansion in Tagbilaran City.
Debriefing is also necessary for the children and people in distress should follow in Antequera, said a doctor who was with the medical mission in this town. Antequera town’s public market, municipal hall and church are considered unfit for use after the earthquake.
The family of Quirico Davis of Barangay Can-omay, Antequera should avail of this, said a doctor in a medical mission here recently. His family is in distress and his six children appeared traumatic.
In an exclusive interview, Davis said he is thankful that four of his children, who were inside the house when the quake struck, were spared. But Rico, 10; Cindy, 9; Ken, 5; and Claire, 4 suffered bruises on different parts of their body. The most affected is Rico who helped his brother and sisters hid under bed when the concrete wall of their house fell on them unexpectedly. The other two — Rea, 7 and Angelou, 3 were outside with his wife, Candelaria, and him when it struck that fateful day.
Three of his four children who were treated during the medical mission here looked still in a state of shocked. Rico, who was severely hit on his head with 12 stitches above on his left ear, did not even bother the pain of injection when he received medical treatment.
Both (Quirico and Candelaria) said they’re thankful to the medical mission, for the treatment, medicines, food stuff and water, but face another stressful challenge, that of rebuilding their lives back to normal and their house. (PNA) CTB/RVO/RSM
PIC 2 – Debriefing session conducted by GMA 7 and workers of the University of Bohol in Baang plaza near the church, Catigbian town.