From the Website of MILF
Government Troops vs Extremist groups conflicts displace 60,000 IDPs 27,500 Children in Maguindanao town
COTABATO CITY – The Save the Children Philippines reported that
more than 60,000 individuals have been displaced, including an estimated
27,500 children (around 13,640 are girls and 13,860 are boys), as a
result of the conflict between government troops and extremist groups on
March 18 in the municipality of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, which have since
spilled over in the neighboring towns of Mamasapano, Shariff Saydona
Mustapha, Shariff Aguak, Datu Salibo, Datu Unsay, and Datu Hoffer
Ampatuan.
Because of this situation in Maguindanao town, Save the
Children has called for continuous and concerted response on the
protection of children and their families who have been affected by the
on-going armed conflict in Maguindanao as local authorities and
humanitarian actors expect prolonged struggle and further displacement
in the region.
“We are deeply concerned about the
present situation of the children in Maguindanao who have to endure fear
and displacement once again at the most unfortunate time of COVID-19,”
said Atty. Alberto T. Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the
Children Philippines.
Save the Children
Philippines conducted an assessment in the evacuation centers and found
out that the major protection concerns of displaced children and
adolescents were their fear and psychological stress from the volatile
security situation and the apparent lack of privacy in the evacuation
centers and toilets. Children and their families have also reported
their miserable conditions in evacuation centers.
Due
to the compounding safety issues and risks brought about by the
pandemic, Muyot highlighted the importance of strategic communication of
public health messages across the affected areas and innovative ways to
implement the minimum health standards while in temporary shelters.
“We
urge the humanitarian community to ensure that boys and girls are
accorded with prompt and regular mental health interventions and that
temporary shelters are provided with gender-responsive WASH facilities
to avert cases of gender-based violence,” said Muyot.
Fanny
C. Divino, Head of Save the Children Office in Cotabato City said in
an interview with local radio station 92.1 Voice FM Cotabato that he is
saddened on the status of Teachers and Learners in the evacuation site.
“Yun
ang isa sa mga challenges natin ngayon dahil ang mga guro ay dapat ay
magtuturo sa mga bata ngunit sila ay na displaced din. So yung mga bata
imbes na naga-aaral sa kanilang mga bahay dahil sa pandemya bagamat
kasamang na displaced din,” Divino said.
Save the
Children Philippines extended humanitarian assistance to 500 affected
families by distributing food items and hygiene essentials. The support
was made possible through the ReACh 2 TEACH project funded by the
European Union Humanitarian Aid.
The child rights
organization has also been leveraging its engagement with the Local
Council for the Protection of Children, Violence Against Women and their
Children (VAWC) desks, and the Women and Children Protection Units
(WCPU) in the region and the community-based informal structures such as
community-based child protection mechanism (CBCPM) groups who have been
formally trained to support the government-mandated structures to
protect children at all times.
Save the Children
Philippines is working closely with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Ministry of Social Services and Development, the
Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, and other partners for
the effective prioritization of people’s needs and delivery of
humanitarian assistance.
MILF Website
Article links:
BANGSAMORO FRAMEFORK
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/787-gph-to-grant-amnesty-to-milf-rebels
http://www.opapp.gov.ph/sites/default/files/House%20Bill%20No.%204994.pdf
http://www.opapp.gov.ph/resources/house-bill-no-4994
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS WEBSITES
Human Rights Advocacy Promotions | Human Rights
http://www.humanrightspromotions.co.nr
PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
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