Israel has donated water filtration systems to support communities that were struck by Typhoon Odette in December 2021.

The Israel Embassy in Manila on Thursday said the filtration systems were turned over to the Mindanao Development Development Authority (MinDA) and were eventually distributed to Del Carmen and San Isidro towns on Siargao Island, and Cagdianao and Basilisa in Dinagat Islands.

“Water is life. This donation is Israel’s initiative to support and promote access to potable water in the Philippines. When Typhoon Odette struck the areas in Mindanao, Israel saw the need for clean, drinking water,” Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said.

“Israel’s innovation and technology can contribute to solving some of the challenges of the Philippines,” he added.

Made with Israeli technology, a portable crank-operated machine capable of taking water from, for example, a river and purifying up to 400 liters per hour, makes enough to supply the daily water needs of 300 to 400 people.

Prior to this assistance, MinDA and local government officials in Mindanao received training from Israel’s Center for International Cooperation (MASHAV) for water conservation and management.

On top of this latest aid, the embassy in December last year sent immediate relief efforts to Cebu, Bohol, and Siargao, which included food packs, hygiene kits, water filtration systems, and solar panels.

“Odette”, said to be one of the strongest typhoons to hit the country in recent years, made nine landfalls between December 16 and 17 last year in the provinces of Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Palawan. (PNA)