OVER 300 internally displaced families currently residing in two evacuation centers in Marawi City have received Ramadan food packs from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
The distribution was held on Tuesday, May 15, during the Armm People’s Day in Marawi City led by the Humanitarian and Emergency Action Response Team (Armm-Heart), a key initiative of the regional government.
Myrna Jo Henry, Armm-Heart information officer, said the distribution of food packs “is an act of charity” and will help the evacuees prepare for the Ramadan that will start on Thursday, May 17.
Henry said each food pack contains rice, fresh fish, dried fish, loaves of bread, peanut butter, coffee, energy drink, sugar, and other food items.
“As we observe the holiest month of Ramadan, may we find time to pray for the lives of thousands who have been affected by the conflict,” ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said.
Marawi City was under siege for five months by combined elements of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Groups starting May 23 last year that displaced thousands of people.
The regional government has been prompt in extending assistance to the evacuees since the crisis started.
It immediately established a crisis management committee and several operation centers to facilitate the delivery of assistance to the affected families.
Armm-Heart also formed a rescue team that helped save civilians trapped in areas where heavy fighting was reported.
The team also helped in delivering additional assistance from the regional government and the provincial government of Lanao del Sur to the affected individuals since last year.
Hataman said the regional government has provided P450 million last year for the rehabilitation of Marawi.
An additional P930 million will be released this year for Marawi City. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)