The United Nations (UN) Philippines expressed its readiness to extend humanitarian aid following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Manay, Davao Oriental on Friday, October 10.
UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Arnaud Peral said in a press conference in Mandaluyong City that the organization is prepared to mobilize its agencies should the Philippine government request assistance.
“We just learned about the earthquake in Davao. We will obviously see if we will be asked to provide any kind of support, and we stand ready to provide support,” Peral stated.
He added, “We are always in coordination with the government and local authorities in activating our networks in coordination with civil society organizations.”
Peral noted that UN Philippines is conducting an assessment of the situation and is already coordinating with relevant government agencies to determine immediate needs.
Meanwhile, Joseph Addawe of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) affirmed that their team has a contingency plan ready in case their assistance is required, echoing Peral’s statement of support.
Earlier, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced that the government had begun preparations for search, rescue, and relief operations to assist affected residents in Davao Oriental and nearby areas.
“We are now assessing the situation on the ground and ensuring that everyone is safe. Search, rescue, and relief operations are already being prepared and will be deployed as soon as it is safe to do so,” the President said.
He added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is pre-positioning food and non-food items, while the Department of Health (DOH) is ready to provide emergency medical assistance to the victims.