THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) together with its various humanitarian partners planted 750 saplings last week in Datu Odin Sinsual, Maguindanao.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, minister of the Interior and Local Government, said that the activity was in line with the celebration of World Humanitarian Day on August 19.

The office of Sinarimbo, the Mindanao Humanitarian Team (MHT) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-Ocha) spearheaded the activity in Labungan village, Datu Odin Sinsuat town.

Sinarimbo emphasized in his speech the importance of unity in the continuous battle against climate crisis.

“The call for a more aggressive and more impactful program to arrest deterioration and the consequent crisis that we face, as a result of many of our failures to address climate change, is really important at this stage,” Sinarimbo said.

“Moving out of the world is not an option... So it’s important that we act together as one in ensuring that this world will be sustained beyond our generation and the generations to come," he added.

UN-Ocha Head in Mindanao Melindi Malang acknowledged the unceasing support they get from BARMM.

“We’re really happy that we have a very strong partnership with the Bangsamoro Government, at makikita nga po yan with the convergence project with the World Food Program (WFP). At hindi lang po yun, ang iba’t ibang UN agencies ay may partnership and agreement din with the BARMM government,” Malang said.

This year’s WHD theme is anchored on “The Human Race,” which aims to initiate global actions against climate change while standing in solidarity with vulnerable populations around the world.

This year, WHD highlights the immediate human cost of the climate crisis by pressuring world leaders to take meaningful climate action for the world’s most vulnerable people. (SunStar Zamboanga)