US joins humanitarian efforts in Zamboanga

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 17): US joins humanitarian efforts in Zamboanga

The creation of a ‘humanitarian corridor’ to allow the safe passage of civilians held by the rogue Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in war-torn Zamboanga City is being urged by the United States government in a recent communication with the United Nation Humanitarian Coordinator, Luiza Carvalho.

At least 183 village folks are still reportedly held captive by the MNLF in that city, as of this writing. Some 67,000 evacuees are temporarily sheltered at the designated 20 evacuation centers, one of them the Sports Complex in Zamboanga City. The civilians are caught in the crossfire between Philippine government and MNLF forces.

The US government assured its continued support to the Philippine government efforts to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of those affected by the fighting.

“The United States government continues to support the Philippine government,” Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr., Ambassador of the United States of America, said in a press statement over the weekend.

To date, the U.S. Government has allocated P27.4 million (US$ $623,000) for emergency relief assistance, and has delivered 19,000 bottled water and supplies, such as sleeping pads, toiletries, canned goods and other food items.

The press statement also delivered the condolences of the United States to the families and friends of those killed or wounded in the clashes and continue to hope that the situation be resolved quickly and without further loss of life.

“We fully support the ongoing peace process in Mindanao and hope the parties will continue to avoid violence as they work toward a final enduring resolution that will benefit all the people of the Philippines,” added Ambassador Thomas.

Human Rights Watch

In a related move, an international human rights group appealed to the Philippine government to abide by the International Humanitarian Law to ensure the protection of civilians affected by the armed conflict in Zamboanga City. The group, the Human Rights Watch, said the Philippine government should take all necessary measures to reduce the risk to civilians, while conducting military operations against the MNLF.

It cited that an undetermined number of civilians remain trapped in at least five coastal villages as a result of an armed standoff. Several residents who escaped the villages told Human Rights Watch that many civilians left in the villages could not leave for fear of getting caught in the crossfire or are being prevented from leaving by Philippine security forces because they lack identification documents and thus are suspected of being rebels.

Residents who had escaped their coastal villages told Human Rights Watch they feared that civilians left behind would be accused of being rebels and could be subject to government attack or mistreatment in custody.

“Both sides to the fighting need to be doing more to protect civilians from harm,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“Government forces should not be making blanket assumptions on whether individuals are rebels based on proper documents. Officials can check those leaving the conflict zone, but they need to ensure that civilians have safe passage and are not put at unnecessary risk,” he added.

Aside from demanding documentation, it is unclear how the authorities are distinguishing civilians from rebel fighters as required by international law, the group said.

In the village of Rio Hondo, some 300 civilians are trapped in an ice plant building after fleeing from their homes for the safety of the concrete structure. Others stayed in the villages to safeguard their homes and belongings, it added.

“Others could not leave because they did not have the money to pay operators of outrigger boats, which became the only safe way to escape the coastal villages caught up in the fighting,” it also said.

The group cited that under the International Human Rights Law, all sides are prohibited from deliberately attacking civilians, conducting attacks that do not discriminate between civilians and combatants, or could be expected to cause disproportionate civilian harm.

http://www.mb.com.ph/us-joins-humanitarian-efforts-in-zamboanga/