2011-12-21 11:01:02

Death toll from Philippine floods tops one thousand


Residents of two southern Philippine cities battered by a storm that left over 1,000 people dead today started the hard work of reclaiming their lives and livelihoods. Authorities also began the task of burying dozens of bodies in concrete vaults.

The head of the national disaster agency, said 1,002 people were killed and dozens more remained unaccounted for on Mindanao island following the disaster.

“It’s a really serious situation and we are looking to be engaged here for at least a number of months”, says Trevor Clark, Chief of Operations for UNICEF in Mindanao.

Speaking to Lydia O’Kane about their main priorities to help those in need especially women and children, Mr Clark explains that water sanitation and hygiene are at the top of the agenda for them.

“Within a day we mobilized a water purification unit to flown down here from Manila.”

The President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino has called the disaster a “national calamity”. Listen RealAudioMP3








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