Groups step up help for Marawi evacuees

MANILA, Philippines - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is stepping up its response to help the residents of Marawi City trapped in the fighting between government forces and extremists since Tuesday.

Pascal Porchet, head of the delegation of ICRC in the Philippines, said a team had entered Marawi City to deliver relief goods and medical supplies to an evacuation center in nearby Saguiaran town.

The Lanao del Sur Provincial Crisis Management Committee said there are about 1,300 families staying in the town gymnasium.

The municipality of Ditsaan Ramain has some 2,737 households, while around 13,000 individuals are seeking shelter in the public gymnasium.

In nearby Iligan City, there are about 2,000 evacuees in the temporary shelter in Barangay Buru-un and more than a thousand in Barangay Maria Cristina.

Porchet said they were able to access Marawi with the help of some concerned groups.

He described the situation in Marawi as “very fluid.”

“Residents are moving in and out of Marawi and we are seriously concerned about those who are trapped or have chosen to stay in the city, who are in need of food and water,” he said.

The ICRC said it had prepositioned medical supplies to reinforce the capacity of rural health units in addressing the basic health needs of the evacuees in Iligan.

Civilians from Marawi continued to arrive in various evacuation sites in neighboring towns and in Iligan City.

With the ongoing hostilities in Marawi City, and with some people still trapped in their homes, Porchet urged those involved in the fighting to take the necessary precautions to spare civilians and their property. 
“International humanitarian law remains applicable in this situation, even after the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. As such, it must be respected at all times and by all the parties. People who may be arrested must be treated humanely and the ICRC will continue to monitor their conditions and treatment,” Porchet said.

The Office of Vice President (OVP) Leni Robredo said they started the delivery of food packs to the displaced residents of Marawi City.

OVP advocacy and programs officer Raffy Magno said they will deliver 1,500 halal food packs to Iligan City.

“The OVP prepositioned 5,000 food packs that will be delivered to different evacuation centers, in coordination with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and the two cities, Iligan City and Marawi City,” Magno said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Employment (DSWD) has allotted some P19.08 million for the purchase of 40,000 family food packs for the families affected by the fighting in Marawi City.

Authorities said over a thousand people remain trapped in their houses in Marawi City as clashes between troops and the militants continue to rage.

The city of Marawi, home to some 200,000 people, has been under siege by IS-linked militants since a failed raid Tuesday night on a suspected hideout of Isnilon Hapilon, the leader of the notorious Abu Sayyaf.

Hapilon got away after Maute fighters took over parts of the city, burning buildings and seizing about a dozen hostages, including a priest. Their condition is unknown.

The violence prompted President Duterte to declare martial law.

Officials of the regional Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said they will attempt to enter Marawi and rescue the residents still trapped there.

The LTFRB said there are at least 1,000 people holed up at the Lanao del Sur provincial capitol and several hundreds at the Mindanao State University (MSU). 

LTFRB regional director Aminoden Guro said they requested six buses to pick up the residents.

Last Thursday, authorities did not allow the buses to enter Marawi due to the deteriorating security situation. – With Gerry Lee Gorit, Janvic Mateo