ICRC assists families displaced by clashes in Maguindanao

Photo credit: E. Birraux / ICRC

Manila (ICRC)–Nearly 2,200 people who fled areas affected by the recent hostilities in Central Mindanao today received essential household items as part of the emergency response from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The ICRC, together with the Philippine Red Cross, distributed cooking sets, hygiene kits and shelter items to four evacuation centres in Ampatuan municipality, which was affected by the fighting beginning last week.

"During our assessment on the ground over the last few days, it was clear that although these families were in evacuation centres, they still faced difficulties to cover themselves from the rainy weather. When they fled, these families left behind most of their possessions and are still unable to return home, fearful of the insecurity," said Christoph Polajner, head of ICRC’s office in Cotabato City.

In total, 468 families who have taken refuge in four evacuation centers in the municipality—Ampatuan National High School, a local madrasah, Kauran public market and Mahat Islamic school in Malating—received a kit containing a cooking pot, bath soaps, mosquito nets, sleeping mat, tarpaulins and jerry cans. The ICRC also distributed medicine in evacuation centres to treat cases of diarrhea.

In addition, to help people injured by the armed violence, a dressing kit, antibiotics and analgesics covering the needs of about 50 patients were delivered by the ICRC to the provincial health office in Shariff Aguak. The humanitarian organization also supported medical treatment provided to five people who were wounded during the hostilities.

The ICRC will continue to monitor and assess the situation.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization that assists and protects victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. It has been working in the Philippines for over 60 years, visiting detainees and assisting people in need throughout the decades of internal armed conflict.  -JC

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A SSISTING THE DISPLACED IN MAGUINDANAO.

At a madrasah in Ampatuan municipality,

families displaced by recent fighting in Central

Mindanao receive cooking, hygiene and shelter

items as part of ICRC's emergency humanitarian

response. The ICRC, a neutral and impartial

organization that assists victims of armed conflict,

reached 468 affected families in four evacuation

sites in Maguindanaoon Aug. 15. Photo credit: E.

Birraux / ICRC