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Sunday, August 17, 2008
War-shocked villagers fear home
DAVAO CITY -- About 60,000 villagers who fled their homes in North Cotabato due to Muslim rebels' attacks are still staying in evacuation centers and are too scared to return to their homes.
Their fears persisted even as military and local officials tried to persuade them it was safe to go back to their homes in the towns of Aleosan, Pikit and Midsayap following a military operation that set the MILF rebels fleeing.
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The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) reported that 13,318 families with 62,096 total dependents are still in evacuation centers in the municipality of Pigcawayan, Libungan, Midsayap, Aleosan, Pikit and Tulunan.
"Fear still hounds them," said Manuel Rabara, mayor of nearby Midsayap town where many villagers remain in evacuation centers.
"When people are displaced due to armed conflict, they feel they are still not safe in their homes so as expected they would rather stay in evacuation sites," he said.
The Provincial Government of North Cotabato have been conducting relief operations for the displaced individuals.
On Friday, the local government unit (LGU), along with the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), conducted simultaneous medical outreach in four evacuation centers.
Medical officials and personnel from the IPHO were dispatched Friday for medical assistance to evacuees at Pigcawayan Central School, Prado Elementary School in Barangay Bulacaon also in Pigcawayan, Barangay San Isidro in Midsayap, and Tulunan Municipal Gymnasium.
The municipal health offices and rural health units of Pigcawayan, Midsayap, and Tululan also provided additional medical personnel.
North Cotabato Provincial Health Officer Dr. Eva Rabaya said assistance provided to the evacuees include check-up and consultations.
The heath team also dispensed necessary medicines and medical supplies like oresol, waterrine, disinfectants and compact food from the Provincial Government and the Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office-Central Mindanao through Regional Director Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama.
Relief goods extended to evacuees include rice, noodles, sardines, salt, sugar, mineral water, sleeping mattresses, mats, blankets, water jugs, polyester tanks, and tarpaulin.
Dr. Gerry Barredo, who led the medical team at Pigcawayan, said common diagnosis for patients include fever for children and hypertension for adults. Both children and adults also suffer from upper respiratory infection, headaches and stomachaches.
IPHO personnel have already conducted similar medical outreach in seven other areas including Barangay Baliki in Midsayap, and Barangay Takepan, Buisan warehouse, and the parish gymnasium in Pikit.
Governor Jesus N. Sacdalan said the medical outreach is part of the Provincial Government's move to lessen the suffering of the victims and let them feel that the government has not abandoned them.
"Some of the evacuees have already gone back to their villages, although some are still in the evacuation centers while government forces are still conducting clearing operations in their barangays," Sacdalan said.
"Our assistance is not enough and we are aware of that," adding that "aside from food and medical assistance, these people obviously need psychological intervention."
There are reports that withdrawing Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces may have left behind landmines in some of the areas they have previously occupied.
"We need to make sure that our citizens would be safe when they return to their homes," Sacdalan said.
Sacdalan also assured residents of the villages previously attacked by members of the MILF 105th Base Command under Umbra Kato that government troops would remain in their areas to provide them security.
Tapudok district in Pikit town, scene of the fiercest fighting, still resembled a ghost town, with empty houses pock marked with bullet holes and only soldiers present, patrolling the area.
The World Food Programme and UN Children's Fund (Unicef) as well as the international and Philippine offices of the Red Cross have helped the government by distributing food, water and other relief supplies to the evacuees.
More than 200 houses were burned and numerous farm animals and equipment stolen when the MILF occupied the area, leaving unexploded bombs behind as they fled, the civil defense office said.
Fighting broke out last week soon after the Supreme Court suspended a draft agreement for the establishment of an extended Muslim homeland in the southern Philippines. The agreement was key to peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.
Despite the fighting, the government said it was still pursuing peace efforts with the 12,000-strong MILF which has been fighting for an Islamic state in the south of the largely-Christian Philippines since 1977.(Ben O. Tesiorna of Sun.Star Davao/with Press release/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (August 17, 2008 issue)
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