Maguindanao evacuees endure dry spell while fighting gone

AFTER enduring several months of displacement, evacuees who returned to their homes and communities are now facing the brunt of a dry spell that is hampering their farming-dependent livelihood.

“Our fields and crops have since dried up, so we have to start from scratch. It will take some time before we can replant,” Mariam Talusan Sulaiman, a resident of Malangog village in Datu Unsay town, was quoted as saying in a May 22 news release of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The situation necessitated the continued assistance from humanitarian relief agencies.

According to ICRC, some 15,000 families living either in evacuation centers or sheltered by host families and relatives received relief packages from the agency between April 28 and May 20.

The recipients are from the municipalities of Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Mamasapano, Sharif Aguak and Sharif Saydona Mustapha of Maguindanao.

In all, these accounted for some 63,000 people who were displaced by the month-long fighting starting March between government security forces and armed men belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

At the height of fighting, the so-called all-out offensive led to the displacement of some 120,000 people in Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces.

“While many families have since returned to their homes, thousands remain scattered in evacuation centers. We supplemented the support given by the authorities because the prolonged displacement has had an impact on the people’s livelihoods, putting a strain on their ability to meet their basic needs,” said Sabine Gralla, head of the ICRC office in Cotabato.

“In addition, majority of them rely on farming, which has been adversely affected by the dry spell,” Gralla added.

ICRC’s assistance to each family consisted of 25 kilograms of rice, 12 tins of sardines, five liters of oil, one liter of soy sauce, one kilogram of sugar, half a kilogram of salt, 300 grams of coffee and a hygiene kit.

These should support a household of six persons for one month, Gralla said.

“This is a big help for all evacuees, especially those of us who have returned to our village,” Sulaiman said.

Apart from the food rations, the ICRC continues to provide displaced persons with 110,000 liters of potable water daily from 49 tanks installed in 27 evacuation sites.

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