Death toll at Zambo City evacuation camps hits 109

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The city government is rushing to relocate to new sites thousands of evacuees after the number of persons who died in evacuation camps rose to 109.

The relocation came following a protest rally by the evacuees early this week blaming the city government’s alleged incompetence for the deaths at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex (JFEMSC) and in another camp along R.T. Lim Boulevard.

The city government has been trying to clean up latrines in the sports complex as its odor has affected the nearby state-run Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) and the city council building.

Gamar Hassan, a leader of the evacuees, blamed the city government for the alleged delay in the implementation of the rehabilitation effort, which he said prevented residents from returning to their homes.

The government has identified the elementary school of Mampang as a temporary relocation site. Bunkhouses will be built as temporary shelters in villages damaged in the firefight between the government security forces and followers of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari in September.

However, residents and village leaders opposed a plan to make the Mampang school as a relocation site. They barricaded the area to prevent the entry of the evacuees. 

Mampang village chairman Leonard Aliangan said evacuees were once sheltered at the school but they allegedly caused damaged to properties.

The villagers expressed alarm over the sanitation habit of the evacuees, noting the current condition of the camp.