EU delegates laud gov't shelters in conflict-hit Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The members of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) were impressed by the temporary shelters  provided for thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the siege last year.

The delegates made their observations following their visits with Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Dinky Soliman at the devastated villages, camp sites and the transitory shelters to assess the real situation Tuesday.

The EU delegates, representing different embassies in the Philippines made their visit barely a day after announcing they are giving additional $338,825 assistance for the victims of the conflict last year that displaced over 120,000 people and devastated at least four villages.

The additional fund has brought the total humanitarian assistance provided by the EU to $745,415.

During the visit, the EU delegates lauded the sanitary facilities built alongside the transitory bank shelters in the coastal area in sitio Masepla, Barangay Mampang.

“I think this is a very impressive work, these facilities are trying to improve the lives of the people affected by the attack and I think also allows them to build community, important habit of sanitation in water and nutrition. I think that is a remarkable job done jointly by DSWD, international partners such as the (International Organization for Migration), Accion Contra el Hambre (ACf), and Spanish cooperation in the Philippines,” said Vicente Selles, country director for Spanish Cooperation.

The EU delegates also took time to talk to the IDPs to determine the latter's actual condition and assistance needed to improve their lives.

However, Soliman and the EU delegates said there remains a big challenge in moving out the remaining thousands of IDPs still staying at the camp sites of the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex (JFEMSC) and those living at the shorelines of Cawa-Cawa Boulevard.

The sports stadium is still housing a total of 2,431 families or 13,20 individuals while 560 families or 2,833 individuals, mostly Badjao tribe continued to stay in Cawa-Cawa and are being gradually relocated by the city government to the transitory sites.

Soliman said there is a need for the remaining IDPs to be moved to the transitory shelters the soonest possible time.

“The real challenge is that we have to move the people out into a better shelter as soon as we can,” Soliman said following their visit at the sports stadium.

She added that the local government has identified a 25-hectarte private property at Barangay Kasanyangan for the establishment of transitory shelters.

“So we are looking at supporting that so we can build the transitional shelter as soon as we can,” she added.

Selles observed the current situation of the IDPs still need a long-term commitment. “It is not possible to solve this kind of problem only in short time.” - Roel Pareño