ARMM gov't continue rehab efforts for displaced Maguindanaoans

COTABATO CITY - The Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Relief Team (HEART) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had spent P1.9 million for its initial rehabilitation efforts for Moro families displaced by hostilities in Maguindanao province two weeks ago, officials announced Tuesday.

The HEART, operating under the supervision of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, had facilitated the distribution of relief supplies and other provisions to 6,627 families affected by the January 26 to 31 hostilities between the military and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in three adjoining Maguindanao towns.

Most of the evacuees from the three towns --- Datu Piang, Shariff Saidona, and Mamasapano --- are still confined in makeshift relief sites, reluctant to return to their homes for fear of a repeat of the BIFF-Army encounters.

The trouble had affected a total of 31 barangays, according to ARMM Regional Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia, who is helping oversee the relief missions of the HEART.

Shariff Saidona accounts for most number of evacuees, with 1,394 families or a total of 6, 970 individuals, many of them children, forced to evacuate to safer areas by the week-long skirmishes.

Alamia said the HEART had also extended relief services to 758 families from Datu Piang that evacuated to Barangay Macasendeg in Midsayap town in North Cotabato.