Hataman, ARMM-HEART hand out aid to flood victims

COTABATO CITY – Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Sultan Kudarat Mayor Shameen Mastura today led the distribution of relief packs to thousands of families affected by floods that submerged Sultan Kudarat's 10 villages.Data from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-ARMM)said at least 10,000 individuals have been displaced by the floods that submerged low lying villages of Sultan Kudarat after the Simuay River overflowed due to light to moderate rain the past three days in Maguindanao.ARMM's Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team personnel accompanied Hataman and other local officials.Flash floods, spawned by heavy rains early this week, swept through swaths of low-lying areas in 10 barangays in Sultan Kudarat, dislocating thousands of villagers.The affected areas are close to rivers overflowed, swelled by heavy downpours.Workers of HEART evacuated to higher grounds hundreds of families from the flooded areas with the help of the police and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.The HEART said continuing medical and other relief services will also be extended to the flood victims.On Thursday,ARMM-HEART corrected a report that a girl, Jing Laure, died due to floods. It said Mayor Mastura clarified the girl died of illness on the day flood struck.