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Tent City Helps Families Stricken by Flash Flood

Ian Gill writes from Ormoc City, Philippines
***The Philippines has suffered several natural disasters in the last 18 months, including earthquakes in central Luzon and the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Late last year a flash flood killed an estimated 7,000 people in the southern island of Leyte. In newly-opened Ormoc Tent City people are being given shelter.
AMID Ormoc's grief, there Is one consolation. In the aftermath of the flash flood which killed an estimated 7.000 people tn and around this port-city in the southern Philippines island of Leyte last year, its refugee camps are at least free of what one social worker called the 'Aeta syndrome.*
Earlier In 1991 dozens of Aetas — people of a hardy mountain tribe who live largely by hunting and gathering — died in resettlement camps after fleeing from the devastating eruptions of Mt. Pinatubo tn Luzon.
At newly-opened Ormoc tent city, red T-shlrted women from the Department of Social Welfare report that the health situaUon is vastly better than in the Mt. Pinatubo resettlement camps.
There was initial resistance to coming here because people had heard of Aetas dying in the Mt. Pinatubo camps," said social worker Pet Ballbalos, as she pointed to the neat rows of Just-erected sturdy white tents.
"But after we explained that many Aetas had died because they had been afraid to seek medical attention until it was too late, they understood and they wanted to come here.'
Based in San Fernando. Pampanga. Ballbalos worked In the Mt Pinatubo camps before transfer to Ormoc. Far from being reluctant to move in. 1.067 people from 231 families streamed into Ormoc Tent City when it opened on November 30. As many families are on the waiting list
Above the din of carpenters using hammers to make tables, one social worker said: "We eVen have three guerilla families here who are not registered but were so worried they were not going to be allowed in they helped put the roof on a tent and moved In,"
The Ormoc disaster was the most lethal of several natural catastrophes the Philippines has experienced in 18 months, plied by the bus terminal where her husband works.
"By the grace of God." says Mrs Mallnao, her family of 11 survived the killer flow by
climbing on top of the concrete house next door. She cradled her six-month-old son Archibald in her arms while the rapids roared around them.
The water rose one meter every five minutes. Wc were terrified. We didn't think we would survive."
Despite the experience, she wants to stay on Isla Verde. "1 don't feel it will happen again. Besides, no place has been assigned to us and we don't want to wait."
Less fortunate was her neighbour. 45-year-old Eduarda Matugas. dressed in widow's black. When the river
came tumbling into her home, she. her husband and their three children scattered In different directions. Daughter Grace. 21. was on a neighbour's roof, calling to her fa ther to join them.
"One second he was on the ground, then he disappeared." says Grace.
The Matugas family Is living with their father's boss. "We don't want to leave the neighborhood," says Eduarda Matugas. "It's near the scliools and handy when we look for jobs." The family plans to build a new home "when we have money."
As in many squatter areas.
there arc strong community ties in Isla Verde. However, for some, the spectre of another catastrophe Is more compelling. Sitting together under a canvas cover, two brothers. Benedicto and Jaime Natividad, say they are waiting to move to Ormoc tent city. Jaime fears another disaster.
Jaime.said when the flood came he was calling for his mother to follow as he scramble over a footbridge. Seconds later It collapsed. His mother, who stayed behind to do some packing, and Benedicto were including eartliquakes in central Luzon and tire Mt. Hnatubo
eruptions, lessons ffom the experience could be useful for other countries prone to natural calamities
The authorities learned from experience and made sure water and light, medical and Social Welfare personnel were all on hand when refugees arrived at Ormoc. When I visited the camp, children at the tent city had begun attending school In town — travelling by shuttle buses provided by authorities — and two day-care nurseries had opened In the camp.
Social workers were also ready to conduct group therapy sessions to help people cope with the grief of losing their loved ones. The Department of Social Welfare was starting a programme to help families begin to earn a living again.
Said Ballbalos: "Most families here engage In vending, but they need capital assistance to start up again. The department has a programme of self-employment assistance.
Emil Tlngson. camp officerin-charge from the nutyor’s office. said: "Altogether, we arc targeting units for 1.000 families. But the problem is that we urgently need more tents and materials such as lumber for the frames."
In the worst-hit area. Isla Verde, where 3.000 squatters beside the Anilab river were believed swept to death by 20-foot-hlgh torrents, makeshift blue-and-whlte tents are dotted among the debris of fallen and uprooted coconuts trees.
Like the grass once more poking through the mud, new shanties are going up despite a government ordinance against living in high-risk areas.
As 38-year-old Paz Mallnao wipes a damp lock of hair from her face, she watches two nelghours put together the
wooden frame for a house to replace the one swept sway by the flood. The wood was sup eventually swept off a roof by the water.
T grabbed my mother, but then I was knocked out by a log. I regained consciousness about 250 meters down the river."
The brothers lost their mother and their sister's family of seven.
In this once-picturesque town, life Is slowly returning to normal, although signs of the turbulence remain. The streets are clear for traffic, but lined with heaps of mud. The railings of a churchyard are twisted like a giant corkscrew. The brand new pink-and-white 38-classroom Ormoc Elementary School, a cause for civic pride when it opened in October, escaped structural damaged but stands In a sea of mud.
Business is struggling to recover. A shoe shop on the main street advertises a "water damage sate." Ironically for a port town, fishermen are suffering from a widespread revulsion against eating fish. In the wake of the tragedy, hundreds of bodies were washed up with missing limbs.
"People are not eating fish because they fear the fish might have cannibalised their love ones." says Vic Sano, consultant project manager working for the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH).
As for the damaged infrastructure in and around Ormoc. the department is preparing a list of sub-projects that will in- ' elude roads and bridges, ports and wharves, erosion and flood control structures, hospitals and health centres, schools and colleges, and water supply systems.
The Asian Development Bank is releasing up to $5 million for use In and around Ormoc from uncommitted funds of an earlier restoration project for typhoon damage.
— GEMINI NEWS
lAN GILL Is the Information Officer at the Aslan Development Bank.