2,500 people displaced in Lanao fail to return home
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Some 2,500 people who were displaced by recent fighting between military forces and pro-Islamic State terrorists in Lanao del Sur province in southern Philippines have failed to return home because of security concerns, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.
Most of those affected by war were staying in Pagayawan town, according to the ICRC.
“These families have been unable to return home due to security concerns,” said Meher Khatcherian, who heads the ICRC office covering the area.
Khatcherian added that the ICRC, with the support of the Philippine Red Cross, has distributed food to the displaced villagers.
“Through various government agencies, we have distributed food among the displaced population. There is a need to extend more help. Our aim is to augment the initial support,” he said, adding that the food aid provided to about 500 families was good for two weeks.
Khatcherian said each family received 25 kilos of rice, one liter of cooking oil, one kilo of sugar, one-half kilo of salt, one liter of soy sauce, 12 cans of sardines, as well as two sleeping mats, a pair of blankets, two mosquito nets, kitchen utensils and hygiene items.
The fighting started in June 17 and affected at least 16 villages in Pagayawan and also in Tubaran where government troops clashed with members of the Islamic State-Ranao.
Khatcherian said more than 14,000 people were initially displaced by the battle.
While families displaced from Tubaran returned home days after the fighting ended, those from Pagayawan continued to stay with relatives or in evacuation centers.
After the clashes ended, Khatcherian said, an ICRC team assessed the humanitarian situation, including the need to strengthen the protection accorded to civilians by international humanitarian law.
“In accordance with our mandate, the ICRC reminds all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, sick and wounded people and detainees, and to fulfill their obligation to respect international humanitarian law,” he added.
Aside from food aid, Khatcherian said the ICRC also donated emergency medical supplies to the Pagayawan rural health unit, which serves 14,500 residents.
“These items will benefit 1,000 people over the next three months. Just two weeks ago, medicines and medical materials were donated to the Unayan District Hospital in Binidayan town, which provides services to five Lanao del Sur towns, including Pagayawan,” he added.
Sporadic clashes still continue in Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Maguindanao with the military claiming to have killed dozens of terrorists from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, whose leaders also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
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