BUTUAN CITY -- The Nutrition Cluster response team convened for widen support and partnership on Monday, December 27, 2021 via a blended meeting at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.

In a quick but meaningful meeting, officer-in-charge Nutrition Program Coordinator Nino Archie Labordo shared to the group the post-Typhoon Odette situation, particularly on nutrition-related concerns in the ravaged areas of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.

Providing responses are members of the cluster which include updates from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on prize freeze, Department of Health (DOH) on commodities available, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on the progress of responses, and the Breastfeeding Nanays in Caraga on the online information drive.

On the other hand, the local government unit of Tandag City shared the response they forwarded to areas affected that include water and food. Also, the province of Surigao del Sur shared the related policies with regards to response made by the provincial government to areas of Surigao City, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao Island.

Meanwhile, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative Amina Lim shared that augmentation for ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is coming. She has requested for the distribution plan and the logistic strategies. 

Christine Zyra Abalos of the Samaritan’s Purse also mentioned the need for human resource augmentation to the affected areas including nurses, doctors, and nutritionist dieticians.

The Nutrition Cluster will be monitoring progress and coordinating nutrition-related response services in the areas most affected by Typhoon Odette in Caraga region. (NNC-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)