More than two weeks ago, when the outbreak started in Zamboanga City, thousands of families were greatly affected in the dispute between the government forces and the MNLF. Most of the families who have evacuated are those with children. With empty handed, as their houses were burned during the conflict incident. Evacuees flocked to grandstand gymnasium carrying only a few things. Anxious and worried, these affected families seem to be helpless.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development deployed Social Workers to facilitate the emergency needs of the evacuees, from registration of evacuees to distribution of relief goods. These were just some of the tasks that our dedicated social workers extend to the displaced families.

As an emergency response to selected hungry babies in the evacuation center, a social worker from Zamboanga Sibugay, who is a lactating mother, offered herself to breastfeed babies while registering evacuees for the family access card. In an interview, Evalinda Jimeno, a social worker officer shared that she choose to give immediate remedy to some mothers who is in dire need of milk for their babies. Jimeno added that although the department have enough supply of milk for children ages 0-6 years old it is still better to encourage mothers to continue breast feeding. “As a social worker, we should be continuously exploring possible intervention to cater the needs of the clients”. ###