Attachments
Incident Background
On 29 and 31 October 2019, two strong earthquakes hit Central Mindanao, with magnitudes of 6.3 and 6.6 (and intensity 7), respectively. Their epicenter was at the Municipality of Tulunan, Cotabato province (previously North Cotabato), and these incidents followed a series of earthquakes and aftershocks that also took place in Central Mindanao earlier in October 2019. The quakes caused scores of civilian casualties and severe damage to houses and government infrastructure such as school buildings, day care centers, health stations, and community water supply facilities.
Current Situation
A total of 4,350 families are severely affected in 29 Barangays of Tulunan, North Cotabato. There were 125 damaged 29 affected Barangays, 24 have received support from government agencies and individual donors. However, five (5) barangays have not yet been provided with any humanitarian assistance as of 02 November. These are: Barangay Galidan with 90 families, Genoveva Baynosa with 34 families, Nabundasan with 74 families, New Panay with 62 families and Tambac with 27 families.
In Kidapawan City, a total of 2,099 families are currently displaced in 12 evacuation centers from 9 barangays (Perez, Macebolig, Ginatilan, Ilomavis, Balabag, Meohao, Naungan, Luvimin and Kalasuyan). Based on reports to the government, 193 school buildings have been damaged (29 totally damaged and 164 partially damaged). The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) requested government and non-government organizations for the immediate deployment of temporary/alternative learning facilities to ensure the continuity of educational activities for children.
Among the pressing needs of the affected population are tarpaulins for temporary shelters of families whose houses have been totally or partially damaged (including those who are afraid to re-occupy their houses due to safety concerns). Food, water, medicine, blankets, mats and hygiene kits are among the identified immediate needs of the affected families, as shared by both local authorities and the affected population. The need for psychosocial support activities was also highlighted due to trauma/profound stress experienced by the vulnerable population, particularly children, women, and other persons with specific needs.