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ICRC_Marawi
end of fighting_MAA: The devastated area of Marawi City,
Lanao del Sur, also known as the "most affected area." Reconstruction has not started and thousands of residents remain displaced, a year since the conflict ended. (Photo By ICRC/Jerome Guillaumot) |
“They
struggle every day to make ends meet with whatever help they can get, as
uncertainty about their homecoming adds to their worries,” said Meher
Khatcherian, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office
in Iligan City. “They deserve support and clarity about the future. Though
there have been some positive developments, the people of Marawi had hoped for
more to be done by now.”
Whether
they are living with relatives, in evacuation centers or in transitional sites,
the families that have been displaced do not have regular access to potable
water and proper sanitation facilities. Adults lack adequate livelihood
opportunities, while their children’s education remains disrupted.
Families
of people who went missing in Marawi need to be accompanied during the process
of clarifying the fate of their missing loved ones.
Having
witnessed the plight of the people firsthand since clashes broke out in May
2017, Khatcherian and his team have worked to help the affected people from
Marawi, bringing in whatever respite possible. Together with the Philippine Red
Cross (PRC), the ICRC continues to focus on the evolving needs of the people.
Addressing
gaps while awaiting the start of the rehabilitation phase, in coordination with
other aid organizations and the authorities, the ICRC and the PRC have
distributed cash grants to thousands of returnee families, helping them restore
their livelihoods.
Besides
this, tools to repair their shelters have been given to residents through the
PRC. The authorities have been provided with technical support to ensure smooth
functioning and potential expansion of the city’s water network. Assisting the
health-care facilities, essential medicines and supplies have been distributed
to them in Lanao del Sur.
“But
there is one thing that remains a top priority for the displaced families and
it’s the need to get clarity about their future so that they can move ahead.
After having their lives completely disrupted by the five-month conflict, and
their properties destroyed, they need to regain a sense of ownership about
their future. Their voices need to be heard,” Khatcherian concluded.
The
ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization working
to prevent and alleviate suffering during armed conflict and other situations
of violence. It also visits people detained in relation to the conflict to monitor
their treatment and living conditions, and facilitates visits from their
families.
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ICRC_Marawi
end of fighting_Bito: Around 3,500 displaced people
staying in Bito Buadi Itowa evacuation center still get water from daily trucking by the Philippine Red Cross with ICRC support. The ICRC is currently drilling two boreholes to improve the water supply here. (Photo By ICRC/Jerome Guillaumot) |
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