First relief reaches Panay Island since typhoon
TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2013 /CNW/ - With help from the Canadian Armed Forces, humanitarian organization Action Against Hunger (Action contre la Faim / "ACF") delivered food to nearly 2,000 isolated children in the centre of Panay Island Thursday.
Through the use of the Canadian Armed Forces' helicopter, ACF delivered 5.8 tonnes of high-protein biscuits to six areas in the center of the island of Panay, where no NGO had been able to reach since the disaster.
Nearly 2,000 children under the age of five and more than 200 pregnant or lactating women received food through the cooperative effort between ACF, the Canadian armed forces and people of the local community.
Panay island resident Elisabeth Bardero walked for more than two hours with her six-month old daughter Aisa to attend the food distribution. "I thought that with a little luck, there would be something for us," said Bardero, whose house was completely destroyed. "We eat mostly rice, because we have nothing else. Two of my children are sick at the moment: they have the flu because of the conditions we live in."
Explained Nilfa Diclaro, Department of Agriculture, Burias: "Eighty per cent of the population is poor here. Almost everyone is a farmer and they have only the food they grow. Most crops have rotted; even if farmers replant now it will take eight months for bananas and cassava to grow. The nearest market is an eight kilometer walk and prices have increased significantly."
Said ACF logistician Charlotte Schneider, "These extremely isolated communities were struggling even before the typhoon hit. We could never have reached these desperate people without the use of the Canadian Armed Forces' helicopter."
"More long-term work is needed to support families until the next harvest and help farmers re-plant, added Schneider. "Meanwhile, distributions of NRG5 (a high-protein biscuit) are a good way to supplement the inadequate food supply."
Canadians wishing to make a donation to ACF can do so online at: http://actioncontrelafaim.ca/donate-to-the-philippines/. The Canadian government has extended the donation matching until December 23.
For ongoing updates please visit our website: www.actionagainsthunger.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @acf_canada
About Action Against Hunger
Founded in France in 1979, Action Against Hunger/ Action contre la Faim (ACF) is a leading international humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger, with a special focus on children under five. Our programs save lives and provide communities with long-term solutions to hunger and its underlying causes. We work in more than 45 countries and reach approximately 7 million people annually.
Image with caption: "Action Against Hunger delivers food aid to 2,000 isolated children in Panay Island, Philippines, with help from Canadian Armed Forces (CNW Group/Action Against Hunger (AAH))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131129_C6235_PHOTO_EN_34111.jpg
Image with caption: "An Action Against Hunger nutrition expert measures children for malnutrition in disaster-struck Panay Island, Philippines on Thursday (CNW Group/Action Against Hunger (AAH))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131129_C6235_PHOTO_EN_34113.jpg
Image with caption: "Children wave goodbye to the Canadian Armed Forces helicopter that delivered food aid as part of Action Against Hunger's Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts Thursday in Panay Island, Philippines (CNW Group/Action Against Hunger (AAH))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131129_C6235_PHOTO_EN_34112.jpg
SOURCE: Action Against Hunger (AAH)
to receive photos or to speak with an ACF contact:
Camille DePutter, Director of Communications
Action Contre la Faim | Action Against Hunger Canada
416.644.1016 x 6 / [email protected]
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