Celebrating Global Hand Washing Day

In celebration of ?????? ???? ??????? day on October 15, our teams presented their commitments to promote #CleanHandsforAll, spreading awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap to prevent diseases like COVID-19, and save lives. ???

Providing Shelter Kits to 76 Households in Sayaban Transitory Sites, Barangay Ilomawis, Kidapawan City, North Cotobato

Written by Joayra Gem Balagtas for Action Against Hunger
“I remember, we had to sleep on the floor with just sacks during our first nights in the tent. You will feel the cold mud beneath it, but it’s all we had at that time,” recalls 56 year-old evacuee, Josephine Barila.
 
To say that life in the evacuation site is not the most comfortable, is truly an understatement. Evacuees try their best to survive daily through the aid they receive, and whatever is left or saved from their properties.
 
Access to shelter is not only a basic need but also a human right, and because of the pandemic, having an adequate home that guarantees safety is more important now than ever. In order to address this, our Emergency Response Team provided shelter kits to 76 households in Sayaban Transitory Sites, Barangay Ilomawis, Kidapawan City, North Cotabato last September 11. The kits include materials that evacuees can use to build beds or platforms inside their evacuation tents. ‘Build Back Safer’ awareness sessions were also conducted.
 
Through this assistance, we hope to provide some comfort to the evacuees who have been displaced since the #MindanaoEarthquakes late last year.
 
This was made possible through the funding of the EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid – ECHO and support from our consortium partners from CARE Philippines and ACCORD Incorporated.
 
(Photos by Joayra Gem Balagtas for Action Against Hunger)

The Risk of COVID-19 to Undernourished People, Young Children, and Elders

Undernourished people, especially young children, who contract COVID-19 could be at greater risk. While elderly people are deemed most at risk of COVID-19, the virus attacks the lungs, which is especially alarming for undernourished children whose risk of mortality increases 15-fold if they develop pneumonia.

To counter this, we need to support health facilities in their fight against the pandemic. In addition to this, we are working hard in maintaining the continuity of our maternal and child health programs.

You can help us strengthen and expand our activities focused on child malnutrition, support for women and psychosocial support.

?????? ???:
https://actionagainsthunger.ph/call-for-donations/

Strengthening our Risk Communication and Community Engagement Efforts to Prevent Spread of the Coronavirus

Part of our initiatives in preventing the spread of the coronavirus is by strengthening our risk communication and community engagement efforts which have reached more than 200,000 people.

Wherever we work, we motivate families and communities to uphold proper hygiene and sanitation practices through our hygiene promotion sessions, allowing them to understand the value of hygiene in fighting infectious diseases, as well as hunger and malnutrition.

??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ????????: https://actionagainsthunger.ph/call-for-donations/

Life After The Mindanao Earthquake: 82 Year Old Man Living By Himself

Written by Joayra Gem Balagtas for Action Against Hunger

 

82-year old Pedro Sanchez has been living alone in the evacuation site in Perez, Kidapawan ever since the Mindanao earthquakes last year. All three of his children now have families of their own. They would sometimes send him financial help, but it is usually not enough to support Pedro since their families have needs as well.

More than a year ago, Pedro was diagnosed with diabetes and suffered a stroke, and he hasn’t been able to walk ever since. He can hardly hear as well, which he says could probably be because of his old age.

Pedro relies on his good neighbors for assistance in taking care of himself. Whenever he has money, he asks his neighbors to buy him supplies and food. They also volunteer to do his laundry and other chores that he has trouble doing by himself. However, there are days where his neighbors aren’t around to help him, so no matter how challenging, he does these tasks on his own.

Last September 21, our ?????????? ????????? ???????? ???? provided Pedro a wheelchair, to help him go through his daily activities with more ease. Teary-eyed, Pedro expressed his gratitude as he saw the wheelchair being pulled towards his tent.

Pedro is one of the 200 target beneficiaries to receive health and protection assistance as part of our ????-?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? #?????????????????? which is funded by the EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid – ECHO.

To find out more on our Emergency Responses in the Philippines, go to:
https://actionagainsthunger.ph/what-we-do/…

A Helping Hand To All Our Filipino Citizen Who Were Affected By The COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us, some more so than others.

The unemployment rate of 17.7% for April 2020 is the highest ever recorded. As of September 24, we have reached 454,125 Filipinos with our projects, providing families with essential goods and services. But, In the face of this unprecedented crisis, we need to act fast and do more to help those who need it the most. ?? ???? ???? ????.

?????? ???.
https://actionagainsthunger.ph/call-for-donations/

Nutrition Sensitization Orientation in Rorogagus East Transitory Site, Marawi City

“How I can help maintain the health of my child?” asked one of the fathers at Rorogagus East Transitory Site in Marawi City yesterday during a Nutrition Sensitization Orientation conducted by our Iligan team.

Both mothers and fathers actively participated in the discussions. Since the facilitator highlighted men’s contribution and influence in ensuring the proper health of their children, the fathers volunteered to practice taking MUAC measurements of children and pregnant & lactating women (PLWs).

Funded by Sida – Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete, the activity focused on detecting malnutrition through the use of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape. The attendees were enlightened of the fact that through this simple assessment, a child can be saved from the negative consequences of malnutrition through early detection.

???? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ????????? & ??????:
https://actionagainsthunger.ph/what-we-do/…

Continuous Livelihood Training For Our Fellow Filipinos

The future looks uncertain for 7.3 Million Filipinos who now find themselves without a job.

One vital part of our projects is livelihood training, making sure that our beneficiaries adapt to the situation and develop new skills to continue providing for their families.

??????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ?????????? ??????? ??? ??????????.
https://actionagainsthunger.ph/call-for-donations/

Real Life Heroes – Aldin Beta-a

Aldin Beta-A is more than a DRR Supervisor for our MOVE UP 3 Project, he is one of our Real-Life Heroes.

After spearheading the Resilient Livelihood Support turnover for 50 families in Marikina last September 18, he shares his experience as a humanitarian worker and working tirelessly to help others amidst the pandemic.


When did you start being involved in development work?
My initial employment was focused on ancestral domain management after I graduated back in 2000. After that, I was mostly involved in the agricultural field and was also part of an earthquake rehabilitation program. In 2006, I was deployed in Southern Luzon, in Aurora, for a community disaster risk reduction program. Thereafter, I was more involved on humanitarian responses during in 2013 until now.

What were your struggles as a humanitarian worker, especially now during the pandemic?
Well, the normal struggle is how to expedite the process given that time is limited, and especially now that transportation between areas have become challenging. The common way we communicate now is through non-face-to-face interactions which can be challenging when it comes to decision-making.

What motivates you to continue a career in humanitarian work?
As a humanitarian worker, it is common in our DNA to help others and doing no harm, so that motivates me to help others even if it needs more patience or innovative ways of getting things done.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
My hope for the future is for us to continuously adapt. I see that we constantly change as a society, even though we experience many hazards or risks. I see that as we can adapt to these different disasters and emergencies, and cope as human beings.


Moving Urban Poor Communities Toward Resilience (MOVE UP 3) is an urban disaster risk reduction (DRR) project which aims to build resilience among urban poor communities in Mindanao. With funding from the European Union, MOVE UP 3 is implemented by a consortium of partners consisting of Action Against Hunger PhilippinesPlan International PhilippinesCARE Philippines, and ACCORD Incorporated.

Read more

Awareness Training on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in the Community and Municipalities of Mindanao City

Humanitarian crises create devastating impacts to the communities affected, but what is most scarring is the psychological trauma and stress that these emergency situations leave behind.

We are steadfast in mitigating these impacts and work closely with several conflict-affected communities in Mindanao.

Thus, last August, we facilitated an ????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????????? ?? ?????? ??? ????????? for 60 community volunteers, leaders and LGU health staff members from the municipalities of Saguiaran, Kapai, Balindong and Madamba in Lanao del Sur, and Municipality of Pantao Ragat in Lanao Del Sur.

Funded by EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid – ECHO, the training was part of our ‘Response to the Unmet Humanitarian Needs of the Most Vulnerable Conflict-Affected Populations in Mindanao’ (REACH) Project in partnership with CARE Philippines and Oxfam Pilipinas.

Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about our ????????? ??? ?????? ????????: https://actionagainsthunger.ph/