Philippines provides relief to almost 850,000 people affected by floods

Emergency teams and the Philippine Army have distributed food, water and clothing to nearly 850,000 people displaced or isolated by floods that began eleven days ago by monsoon rains that have affected the Philippine capital, Manila, and several neighboring provinces. About 60 percent of Manila, a metropolitan region home to some twelve million people, remains flooded on Wednesday, according to Reuters said the director of the National Council for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction, Benito Ramos. At least 19 people have been killed since Tuesday due to the constant rains in the wake of Typhoon Saola 'to the north of the island of Luzon in late July.The latest confirmed deaths bring to 72 the number of fatalities. Schools and many businesses remain closed for a second day. Meanwhile, the army, police and city officials are trying to distribute aid. According to authorities, many people are reluctant to leave their homes because they do not want to lose their belongings. "We are asking people living along rivers that have experienced flooding him go," said Ramos. "If we had to force them to leave their homes, we would, for their own safety," he added. Interior Minister Jesse Robredo, has indicated that the Government has begun to develop plans to permanently relocate people living along rivers and in coastal areas to limit deaths and property damage that may occur during the rest of the monsoon and typhoons. The National Council for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction noted Wednesday that has distributed food, water, clothing and medicine to people who are stranded in their homes due to flooding and those who are housed in temporary shelters. Monsoon rains, which occur each year in the Philippines, this time they have been more intense because of Typhoon Saola 'and Tropical Storm Haikui', which has passed through the Philippine Sea this week. But the national meteorological office on Thursday expected to decline substantially because rainfall 'Haikui' has already landed in China. In fact, on Wednesday has lowered the alert level of rainfall, although in the last 24 hours rainfall has increased to reach 390 mm, compared with 323 mm recorded the previous day. The highest level of rainfall, 454 mm was recorded in September 2009, when 80 percent of Manila was flooded. Over 700 people have died and damage to property valued at 1,000 million dollars (808 million euros). Ramos said that the authorities are concerned about the situation in the coastal areas. "It is difficult to distinguish the sea of ​​flood water," he added after evaluating the situation from the air. In four provinces near Manila, including Bataan and Pampanga, producing rice, has declared a state of calamity. Authorities estimate the damage to crops, mainly rice, represent 152 million pesos (2.9 million).