DAY 24 | PNoy asked to declare Zambo in state of calamity to deal with humanitarian crisis

From InterAksyon (Oct 2): DAY 24 | PNoy asked to declare Zambo in state of calamity to deal with humanitarian crisis



A Philippine flag flutters over burned and bullet-riddled houses in Zamboanga City. (AFP)

The Zamboanga City government has asked President Benigno Aquino III to declare a state of calamity to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the bloody standoff between government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front.

“…The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) … requested the National Disaster Risk and Management Council (NDRRMC) to recommend to his Excellency, President Aquino the declaration of Zamboanga under a state of calamity on the basis of humanitarian crisis,” Climaco said in a statement released late Tuesday.

Although authorities declared the crisis in Zamboanga “over” on Saturday, sporadic fighting, described as “house to house” has continued as security forces work to clear communities retaken from the MNLF of rebel holdouts, possible booby traps and unexploded ordnance. Military and police officials have said this could take two weeks at least.

Even before this, the United Nations had officially declared a humanitarian crisis in the city.

The military has said the clearing operations would take at least two more weeks
Because of this, most of the more than 100,000 persons displaced by the violence since September 9 remain unable to return to their communities, with others having no more homes to return to as the fighting -- which has included artillery barrages and air strike -- and the many fires that broke out have razed more than 10,000 houses.

The NDRRMC said residents of at least 14 barangays in the city and one in Zamboanga Sibugay province fled their homes, although the heaviest fighting had centered in Barangays Sta. Catalina, Sta. Barbara, Rio Hondo, Mampang, Talon-Talon, Kasangyanan and Mariki, among others.

Climaco-Salazar said they are holding a donors’ forum on Wednesday with the Department of the Social Welfare and Development and other key national agencies “for the purpose of inviting benefactors and patrons to help us in our relief efforts and ultimately to help us implement our post-crisis plan.”

She said they have to begin the transition to the rehabilitation phase even as the clearing operations continue.

Climaco-Salazar said a nighttime curfew will continue to be in effect in the city -- from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. in critical areas and 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. elsewhere.

On Monday, work resumed at city hall while businesses outside the conflict began to reopen.

Classes in schools beyond the 5-7 kilometer radius around the critical zone have also resumed.

Climaco-Salazar also said the city is preparing for the celebration of its annual Fiesta Pilar, with the nine-day novena to the Nuestra Senora de Pilar to begin Wednesday.

However, she added that masses scheduled in honor of the city’s patron saint are “still subject for clearance from military authorities.”

The crisis has so far claimed more than 200 lives: 168 rebels, 12 civilians, 19 soldiers and five police personnel.

At least 266 other persons -- 179 military personnel, 15 police, 72 civilians -- were wounded, while 276 rebels have been captured or surrendered.

Authorities said 194 civilians taken hostage by the rebels have all been accounted for.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71907/day-24--pnoy-asked-to-declare-zambo-in-state-of-calamity-to-deal-with-humanitarian-crisis