File photo of evacuees escaping the war-torn Marawi City in Mindanao. INQUIRER.net
As the ongoing clashes in Marawi City drag on, so does the needs of civilians trapped or displaced.
This was the appeal of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as it stressed the need to support more than 200,000 evacuees affected by the month-long armed conflict.
Roberto Petronio, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Mindanao, said the situation is far from over and that affected residents continue to face challenging situations.
“There is still a need to support more than 200,000 displaced people with food, drinking water, sanitation facilities and health care in the coming weeks,” he said in a statement.
Government troops have been engaged in clashes with the Maute terrorist group since May, following the group’s siege of the city.
The crisis has prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to impose martial law in Mindanao.
The ICRC and the Philippine Red Cross began by distributing two-week food rations, household and hygiene items for displaced people in Saguiaran, including those staying with relatives.
The ICRC also evacuated more than 700 people from Marawi City since the conflict broke out on May 23.
Petronio expressed concern for the civilians trapped by the fighting, noting that the ICRC tried to intervene and evacuate the civilians to safety.
“We are extremely worried about those who are still trapped in Marawi, and continue to urge all parties to the conflict to allow them to leave the area safely,” he said.
He added that they are meeting regularly with government agencies to identify gaps in the humanitarian aid and to address current and future needs.
“Looking forward, the future needs of the displaced families will include support for their return to Marawi City, while those who cannot go home need temporary relocation or settlement,” Petronio said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways has already turned over its second batch of relief assistance for displaced residents of Marawi City.
DPWH undersecretary Emil Sadain turned over 450 sacks of rice, 90 boxes of canned goods, and 69 boxes of coffee to local officials in Cotabato City on Thursday.
The assistance was culled from the voluntary financial contributions of DPWH officials and employees which reached P 4.78 million.
Last June 14, the DPWH sent its first round of aid to evacuation centers in Iligan City, enough for 3,572 evacuees.
The DPWH is also part of a national oversight committee which will reconstruct and rebuild Marawi City. JPV
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