Delia’s hometown of Catubig was one of the severely affected municipalities when non-stop rains battered Northern Samar due to the combined effects of a low-pressure area, Northeast monsoon and shear line from December 2022 to January 2023.
“Bubong na lang ang nakita sa bahay namin nung bumaha. Nabasa lahat ng aming gamit kasi hindi ko inasahan na tataas ng ganun ang tubig. Ang mga tinanim kong gulay at palay ay nasira din. Namatay din ang mga alaga naming manok. Nakakalungkot na sa isang iglap nawala ang aking pinaghirapan at pinagkukunan ng pang araw-araw na pagkain at panggastos,” shares the grandmother of two.
(Translation: Nothing apart from the roof of our house could be seen during the flood. All our things got drenched because I didn’t expect the water to rise that high. The vegetables and rice I planted were also damaged. Our chickens also died. It’s sad that in an instant, I lost the things I worked hard for, as well as our source of daily food and income.)
Delia and her grandchildren stayed at the evacuation center for a week after the flooding. But she’s more worried about going home to a house damaged by the flood with no food and source of income.
Plan International Philippines responded and is continuously supporting the affected families in Las Navas and Catubig, Northern Samar through cash for food assistance to help cover the cost of their essential basic needs while they recover from the flooding.
“Laking pasasalamat namin na nasali kami sa nabigyan ng cash for food ng Plan International dahil may panggastos na kami sa mga susunod na araw. Binili ko ng bigas, gatas, at ulam ang pera para siguradong may pagkain na kami. May baon na rin ang aking mga apo sa pagpasok kaya masaya ako na hindi nila nararamdaman ang epekto ng baha. Mas mahirap para sa akin kung makikita kong nahihirapan ang aking mga apo,” Delia added.
(Translation: We are very grateful to be included in the cash for food assistance provided by Plan International because now we have money for the next few days. I bought rice, milk, and food items with the money to make sure we had something to eat. My grandchildren also now have snacks for school so I am happy that they are not feeling the effects of the flood as much. It’s harder for me if I see my grandchildren struggling.”)
Delia is now back to planting vegetables and rice to support her grandchildren and bring back what the flood took from them.
Emergencies, Disaster relief, Disaster risk management, Livelihoods
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