Death toll among Zamboanga siege evacuees hits 167

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -The number of deaths from the evacuees of the Zamboanga siege already reached 167, a health official said.

An additional 12 fatalities were registered from July to August from the evacuation camps and transitory sites of the (internally displaced persons) IDPs, said City Health Officer Dr. Rodelyn Agbulos.

Agbulos said the figure was a cumulative number of deaths since September last year when the evacuees started to camp at different sites following the siege of the rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari.

Agbulos said out of the total deaths, 56 were males and 51 were children who died due various conditions that included pneumonia, old age and cardiac arrest.

He said there were also cases of deaths which were unknown to them, kept secret by the families of the victims.

Agbulos said the health units continue to intensify their health campaign in the different bunk houses and transitory sites, including in the remaining evacuation camp at Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex to address the cause of deaths among the IDPs. - Roel Pareño