Maguindanao displaced families get aid from LGU
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 16:00 PM Tue Dec 3, 2019
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
A Muslim grandma and her pregnant daughter wait for go signal from the local government officials in one of the evacuation sites in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. (Shariff Aguak LGU)
TACURONG CITY – Almost 2,000 internally displaced persons have received aid from the local government of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Saturday and another relief operations is on schedule, officials said today.
Datu Anwar Kuit Emblawa, municipal information officer and executive secretary of Mayor Engr. Marop B. Ampatuan, said the families have fled their homes when government forces and outlawed gunmen clashed in Shariff Saydona Mustapha on Nov. 24.
Government forces from 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) have launched surgical operations against Dawla Islamiyah and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Saudi Ampatuan), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, also known as “SPMS” box, the area of operation of the BIFF.
Rocky Romancap, Shariff Aguak municipal social welfare office, said a total of 1,945 displaced families (about 11,600 individuals) from six barangays of Shariff Aguak have received relief aid from the local disaster team as ordered by Mayor Ampatuan.
Romancap said each family received a package composed of five kilos of rice, canned goods, coffee and noodles.
Emblawa said the IDPs were also provided with safe drinking water to prevent the spread of water borne diseases in evacuation sites. “The drinking water is being provided for the IDPs on the daily basis,” Emblawa said.
Emblawa spent some time talking to the affected families and said many of them really wanted to return home.
“They really want to be back home because they are productive in their communities than in temporary shelters,” Emblawa said. He said most of the IDPs said the relief aid was a big help for while they stay in evacuation camps.
“Mothers are worried their children are vulnerable to diseases if their stay in evacuation camps will go further,” Emblawa said. “Kawawa mga anak natin (We pity our children),” he added. As to when they can return, residents are awaiting words from local government officials and the military.
Aside affected families from Shariff Aguak’s six villages, provincial social welfare officials said there were also IDPs from Shariff Saydona, Mamasapano and nearby towns.
They are being attended to by their respective LGUs, according to Emma Ali, Maguindanao social welfare provincial chief.