The Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office 9 sent 1,468 family food packs to the internally displaced families in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan yesterday.

Each family will be provided with two food packs that each contains six (6) kilos of rice and other food items.

The said assistance worth Php675,280 serves as augmentation aid to 734 families who have fled their homes during the AFP-bandits clash last Saturday.

The 3,587 refugees, as reported by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, are currently seeking shelter in three evacuation centers located in Tipo-Tipo Proper, Subah and Amaloy.

Barangays of Baguindan, Silangkum and Bohe Piang were directly affected by the recent clash.

DSWD 9 currently has 8,620 family food packs and 9,000 stockpiles of non-food items on standby.

Aside from the food and non-food items, DSWD is also continuously coordinating with the PSWDO for other augmentation needs, such as manpower.