COTABATO, Philippines – Four weeks of torrential rains have left the province of Cotabato struggling to survive.
The swollen Rio Grande de Mindanao has overflowed its banks, flooding the once fertile rice fields and forcing families to flee the rising waters and abandon their homes for safer shelter.
“Reports say it will be flooded for more than three months,” said Dr. Kim Pascual, OB Philippines country director. “Luzon and Manila were also affected by another typhoon last weekend, but nothing compares to the suffering in Cotabato.”
Now, those families are huddled in temporary evacuation shelters where basic necessities are on short supply.
Operation Blessing relief teams are distributing emergency relief supplies such as sleeping mats and blankets, providing free medical care to displaced families, and setting up feeding programs for children.
So far, hundreds of families have already been reached with aid as OBI teams continue to work in the most affected areas.