DOH: No Marawi resident died in evacuation centers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Department of Health has denied reports that at least 40 residents who fled Marawi have died in evacuation centers.

The reported deaths are not due to illnesses the residents acquired in evacuation centers, but pre-existing health conditions, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said during a visit in this city on Friday.

“I don’t know where that came from,” Ubial said on the reported increase in the death toll in evacuation centers.“We reported to the President...that these deaths are not in evacuation centers.”

Ubial said the reported fatalities were home-based evacuees or stayed with their relatives or friends and died while being treated in various hospitals. 

She said even international organizations confirmed that the situation in evacuation centers is well-managed.

Ubial said at least 85 percent of the more than 430,000 Marawi residents displaced in the crisis are home-based. 

“We mobilized local government units, including barangay officials to help us reach out to these home-based evacuees to determine if they are getting enough food and safe drinking water,” she said.

Relief cards

Meanwhile, at least 100,000 families affected by the crisis in Marawi were issued Disaster Assistance Family Access Cards (DAFAC).

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said they finished encoding the cards, which are expected to aid in effective data management and delivery of social services to affected families.

The DSWD said DAFAC contains basic information of displaced families, including whether they are home-based or staying in evacuation centers.