Marawi City evacues |
Cotabato
City (May 16, 2018) – More than 300 internally displaced families currently
residing in two tent city sites in Marawi City have received Ramadan food packs
from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government on Tuesday, May
15.
The
distribution was held during the ARMM People’s Day held in Marawi City led by
the Humanitarian and Emergency Action Response Team (ARMM-HEART), a key
initiative of the regional government.
Myrna
Jo Henry, ARMM-HEART information officer, said the distribution of food packs
“is an act of charity” and will help the evacuees prepare for the Ramadan that
will start on Thursday, May 17. The food packs contain rice, fresh fish, dried
fish, loaves of bread, peanut butter, coffee, energy drink, sugar and other
food items.
“As we
observe the holiest month of Ramadan, may we find time to pray for the lives of
thousands who have been affected by the conflict,” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman
said.
Marawi
City was under siege by elements of local terrorist groups starting May 23 last
year. With the terrorists occupying major parts of the city, fighting went on
for five months, or until October, destroying properties and forcing thousands
of residents to flee their homes.
The
regional government has been prompt in extending its assistance to the evacuees
since the crisis started. It immediately established a crisis management
committee and several operation centers to facilitate the delivery of assistance
to the affected families.
In June
2017, at least a month since the seige started, the regional government
released P77 million as assistance to the victims of the crisis. ARMM-HEART
also formed a rescue team that helped save civilians trapped in areas where
heavy fighting was reported.
The
team also helped in delivering additional assistance from the regional
government and the provincial government of Lanao del Sur to the affected
individuals since last year.
In
earlier reports, Gov. Hataman said the regional government has provided P450
million last year for the rehabilitation of Marawi. An additional P930 million
will be released for Marawi this year. (Bureau of Public Information)
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