50,000 people displaced in armed clashes — report

MANILA, Philippines — The clashes between government forces and armed groups in Mindanao is developing into a humanitarian situation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported yesterday.

The ICRC said innocent civilians are often casualties and left homeless by the clashes.

“Around 50,000 people have already been displaced by the recent armed clashes in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Bukidnon,” the Red Cross said its report.

Some 1,800 families or 9,000 people were forced to abandon their homes in Lanao del Sur on fears they would be caught in the crossfire between government troops and the Islamic extremists near Tubaran and Pagayawan towns.

“Majority of the displaced families fled to nearby evacuation centers, while some sought shelter with relatives around Marogong. Living conditions are difficult for those in evacuation centers due to limited access to water and sanitary facilities,” the ICRC said.

The ICRC has distributed a half-month of food rations, household and hygiene items to around 6,500 displaced people in Tubaran and Pagayawan and at the same time, offered the evacuees emergency toilets in the main evacuation centers. 

After the Marawi siege, government troops have been hunting town the remnants of the homegrown Islamic State militants in Lanao del Sur.

In Bukidnon, around 180 families from Sitio Pandarasdasan and Cawayan, all in San Fernando and Malaybalay City, are still staying in evacuation centers since February as government troops launched operations against communist rebels in the province.

“These families fled their homes due to clashes in their villages. Living conditions are dire for the evacuees who sleep on the floor without mats or blankets. Access to water and sanitation facilities are constrained,” the ICRC said.

Over in Maguindanao, continuing clashes between security forces and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in areas of Central Mindanao forced around 39,600 people out of their homes, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.

Following its own field assessment on the developing humanitarian situation in Maguindanao, the ICRC said they will provide food and household items to around 4,250 displaced people in Datu Saudi, Datu Unsay and Shariff Aguak. 

“Two major hospitals and seven rural health units are getting medicine and medical supplies, and when access is safe, interventions will be done for improved access to water and sanitation,” the ICRC said.