Tuesday, July 1, 2014

MILF: FSD, UNYPAD conduct campaign on UXOs risk education at combat zone areas

From the MILF Website (Jul 1): FSD, UNYPAD conduct campaign on UXOs risk education at combat zone areas



The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) in partnership with the United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD) Sulu provincial chapter conducted an education awareness campaign on the risk of Mines and Unexploded Ordnance or UXOs at Barangay Kaunayan, Patikul, Sulu on June 21, 2014.
  
The activity was facilitated by Mr. Carradine M. Abdulpatta, FSD facilitator, and a member of UNYPAD Sulu provincial chapter.

Jun Muha, Sulu Provincial Chairman Chapter of UNYPAD said, “Through proper coordination with barangay officials, community leaders and other stakeholders in the community, this activity was made possible.”

Mrs. Sitti Iyna Tani, Barangay Chairwoman of Kaunayan said, “Perhaps it is just a coincidence that while we are holding this activity, there is a military operations going on in nearby barangays.”

“We actually heard loud explosions from military artilleries but we still managed to conduct the activity,” Chairwoman Tani pointed out.

According to Mr. Muha, there are 17 women, 21 men and 13 Children participated in the awareness campaign. Patikul is known as Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) stronghold.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have conducted several surgical military operations in this area to run after ASG members resulting to deaths and wounding of some members of both sides and displacements of civilians.

In a separate development, Mr Ammier Dodo, advocacy officer of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) reported that during the fierce firefight between government troops and ASG members on June 21 at Buhanginan, Patikul, there were massive displacement of 70 families from Barangay Kantitap, 200 families from Barangay Kabantukas, and 270 families from Barangay Kanagi.

“So far only the DSWD distributed relief assistance to the IDPs,” Mr Dodo said.

“But those were not enough for their needs,” he said.  “They still need more assistance such as food, clothing, medicines and temporary shelters from other humanitarian organizations”, Mr Dodo pointed out.

According to Mr. Dodo, “Barangay Kanagi is the nearest community to a Philippine Marines camp and the villagers are restricted to go out a kilometer away from its perimeter radius to avoid any untoward incident,” he disclosed.

Meantime, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) according to Mr. Muha were still in dire need of assistance especially during this month of Ramadan. “For the moment, it is really hard for them to return to their normal life due to that incident,” Mr. Muha said.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1065-fsd-unypad-conduct-campaign-on-uxos-risk-education-at-combat-zone-areas

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.