Barmm sends aid to conflict-displaced residents

THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) delivered on Monday, January 4, relief assistance to hundreds of residents displaced by attacks of armed groups last week in the municipality of South Upi, Maguindanao.

Lawyer Naguid Sinarimbo, Minister of Interior and Local Government (MILG), said the agency, through the Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (MILG-Readi), sent over 600 food packs for the 599 affected families in Itaw village, South Upi.

Sinarimbo said the relief goods were received by South Upi Mayor Reynalbert Insular, who distributed the relief goods Tuesday to the displaced residents.

Unidentified gunmen attacked Itaw village, South Upi on December 2, 2020, prompting the residents to flee homes.

Sinarimbo said a series of humanitarian interventions were then provided by the local government unit, Barmm's concerned ministries, and other humanitarian agencies.

The tension increased on December 31, 2020 when allegedly the same armed groups burned rice fields and 13 houses in the village.

On Sunday, January 3, the groups ambushed a convoy of Insular and other officials who came from a relief mission for the displaced residents.

Three individuals were wounded and one villager died during the incident.

A report released by the Ministry of Social Services and Development in Barmm (MSSD-Barmm) showed that about 1,343 families were affected by the armed conflict as of Tuesday, January 5.

The affected families are from the villages of Itaw, Pandan Pilar, in Southn Upi and Fugotan in Talayan town.

Barmm has organized a multi-agency special task force to address the problem.

The regional government has also coordinated with South Upi Municipal Government, military and police to secure the affected areas and hold those at fault accountable. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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