World Vision, a faith-based organization that aids children in vulnerable circumstances, has urged assistance for over 8,479 families and 4,751 individuals displaced by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental last month.

A RIVER affected by lahar or mudflow following the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental.

Two municipalities in the province have been declared under a state of calamity following the eruption.

While local government units have provided affected families with food and other essential items, residents of the municipality of La Castellana and the city of Canlaon need drinking water.

“Lahar has affected our rivers and other water sources. Families here in World Vision communities are now buying water for drinking and other essentials. In other communities, livelihoods have been affected. Fish are dead, and some agricultural lands like rice and cane fields were covered by ashfall,” said World Vision Program Officer Vincent Mallillin. 

Local government agencies have suspended work except for essential services and are already utilizing their emergency fund to help affected communities.

World Vision continues to monitor the situation.

The organization has around 2,000 assisted children in the province of Negros Occidental. The World Vision community is just 24 kilometers from Kanlaon.

Kanlaon erupted last month and spewed coarse ashfalls that affected nearby communities.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has maintained Alert Level 2 which means there is “current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to further explosive eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruptions.”