COTABATO, Philippines, Jan 16, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) - The United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) will provide about 630 tons of rice for thousands of flood victims in the southern Philippines, according to an official on Friday.
As many as 20 people have been killed and over 300,000 others affected by heavy rains that have caused flooding in some Philippine regions over the past weeks. Most of the fatalities died of drowning and landslides,
"WFP fully understands that the situation remains fluid, and we will continue to work closely with the government and NGOs ( nongovernmental organizations) on the ground to further assess and adjust our response accordingly," said Stephen Anderson, WFP's Country Director and Representative in the Philippines.
"The restoration of livelihoods of the affected people could take time, hence WFP announces this response in hopes that the food support could provide immediate relief to their situation," the U.N. official said.
"We remain concerned over the growing number of persons displaced by this natural disaster, some of whom are already vulnerable due to the conflict in the area," he added.
The WFP, the world's largest humanitarian agency, aims to feed around 100 million people in 77 countries this year.