Nearly 700,000 food and rice packs have been distributed as of November 19, 12 noon, by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to all the 40 towns in Leyte and 15 in Eastern Samar that were affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

The Department has also already given relief goods to all the barangays in Tacloban City.

Aside from food packs,

DSWD has provided the displaced families with a total of 218,259 liters of bottled water; 40,892 pieces of canned goods; and, 124,979 pieces of high-energy biscuits.

Relief operations continue in other areas with Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman leading the DSWD team there.

Sec. Soliman assured that there is enough supply of relief goods for all families affected by ‘Yolanda.’

Donations

DSWD said that it also continues to receive donations from various groups to augment the relief goods of the government.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Chief in Mindanao Arjun Jain turned over yesterday 100 cots and 100 mattresses to Secretary Soliman. The turn over ceremony was held at the DSWD relief hub in barangay Apitong, Tacloban City.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on the other hand, through JICA-Philippines Chief Sasaki Takahiro, donated 2,000 sleeping pads, 500 tents, 620 plastic sheets, 20 generators, 20 cord reel and 20 water purifier for Ormoc, San Isidro, Tacloban, Palo, Tanauan, Basey, and Guiuan.

Earlier, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has already given 350 tents.

World Food Programme (WFP) donated rice and high-energy biscuits. They also provided mobile storage units and trucks for food delivery.

Likewise, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) gave out hygiene kits. ###