UNHCR, IOM deliver fresh batch of non-food items in E. Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The UN High Commissioner on Refugees yesterday started distributing thousands of core relief items to priority areas in this city as part of its ongoing recovery assistance.

The UNHCR is distributing 4,000 hygiene kits consisting of toiletries, wrap-around clothing and undergarments in four transitional shelters in the city where 372 displaced families are temporarily relocated.

The hygiene kits will also be apportioned across the agency's sub-offices in Ormoc City and Guiuan town in Eastern Samar for subsequent distribution in the coming days.

The International Organization for Migration, on the other hand, has coordinated with UNHCR's protection team to bring its energy-efficient charcoal-fueled stoves to these priority areas.

The delivery of these core relief items from the UNHCR is primarily linked to its global protection mandate in situations of displacement resulting from conflict and natural disasters.

"These hygiene kits help improve the water and sanitation conditions for displaced families in their new and temporary relocation sites by mitigating risks of certain diseases," said Eilish Hurley, UNHCR associate protection officer in Tacloban.

Earlier this year, the UNHCR completed its distribution of emergency core relief items such as tents, plastic sheets, blankets, jerry cans, kitchen sets, solar lanterns and other essential non-food items across three regions in central Philippines.

"To date, and since November last year, we have delivered core relief items to more than 700,000 of the most vulnerable of the affected populations including those in far-flung areas," Hurley added.

The UNHCR is also set to distribute another batch of solar-powered lanterns later this year. Solar lanterns are regarded as one of the most innovative relief items in the agency's operations, lighting up communities to help the safety and security of families.