MARAWI CITY, Jun 5 (PIA) --As part of its continuing efforts for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic response, the Action Against Hunger (AAH) distributed a handwashing facility with soap to Task Force Bangon Marawi Field Office, the city government of Marawi and transitory shelters in the city.

This project entitled "Response to the Unmet Humanitarian Needs of the Most Vulnerable Conflict-Affected Population in Mindanao" or REACH program, is funded under European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Office.

Jasper Llanderal, AAH's head of office said that the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project aims to raise awareness and the practice of handwashing, especially to the vulnerable sector.

"WASH is one of our strengths, and we saw the importance of raising awareness on proper handwashing. It has been proven that it is one of the effective ways of preventing the spread of coronavirus," Llanderal said.

Llanderal shared that AAH targets to provide precautionary and safety measures in the transitional shelter sites, market sites, or crowded places in Marawi City.

AAH targets to distribute 30 handwashing facilities in the city in total. The transitory shelter sites which received such facilities are Rorogagus Transitory Shelter Site, Mipaga Bahay Pagasa Phase 2, Saguiaran Bakwit Village Transitory Shelter, and Boganga Lakeview Transitory Shelter Site.

Jasliah Abbas, an internally displaced persons (IDP) leader of Rorogagus Shelter Site expressed her appreciation to the efforts of Task Force Bangon Marawi for continuously coordinating with agencies that can further provide aid to them. She also thanked AAH for the facility given to their shelter site.

"Itong bingay nila na handwashing facility, malaking tulong ito sa amin para mapractice at maprevent ang pagkalat ng COVID-19," said Abbas.

[This handwashing facility given by them is a big help for us to practice and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.]

Meanwhile, Hanifa Macabando, an IDP leader of Mipaga, Bahay Pag-asa Phase 2, hoped that her fellow IDPs will follow the practice of handwashing.

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa TFBM at sa AHH, kasi mula noon hanggang ngayon di kami nakakalimutan. Sana makicooperate yung mga tao sa pagpractice ng paghuhugas ng kamay," said Macabando.

[We are grateful for TFBM and AAH, because they did not forget us since then. I hope the people will cooperate in practicing handwashing.]

TFBM Field Office Manager Manager ASec. Felix J. Castro Jr. expressed his gratitude to AAH and reminded the IDP leaders of their responsibility to take good care of the facility to sustain the project.

Aside from this project, AAH is also involved in risk communication wherein they disseminate information on preventive and precautionary measures in the fight against COVID-19. (LELA/ PIA ICIC)