21 February 2006

Save The Children To Assist Victims Of Mudslide In The Philippines

Save the Children has staff in the Philippines who are currently assessing the situation for children and families who survived a deadly mudslide that buried hundreds of houses and a school in the central Philippines on Friday.

"Save the Children's normal approach in these situations is to make an assessment of need and coordinate work with other agencies to ensure that children and their families have adequate food, water, clothing, shelter and other essential items. Our focus is on providing support and safe areas for children," John Bowis of Save the Children New Zealand said.

Triggered by two weeks of heavy rains, the mudslide appears to have killed several hundred people including many school children in an elementary school. As many as 1,800 are reported missing and feared dead.

The disaster took place in the village of Guinsaugon on the island of Leyte in the Philippines. Witnesses said the earth shook just prior to the mudslide striking the town.

"There could be a risk to other nearby villages and additional mudslides or floods are possible due to the recent very heavy rains. We will be working with other agencies to attend to the needs of survivors and those being evacuated from nearby villages," John Bowis, Executive Director of Save the Children New Zealand said.

Save the Children has been working in the Philippines for many years.

Please include Save the Children among agencies responding to the mudslide in the Philippines.

For those who wish to donate – ph 04 385 6847 or www.savethechildren.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media