Recognizing no boundaries, the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 started on Saturday its relief operations
to families displaced by armed conflict in Maguindanao and North
Cotabato .
"We are not only extending assistance to North Cotabato
internally displaced persons but even those from Pagalungan and Montawal
municipalities," Norhata Benito, head of the Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Section of DSWD 12, told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal.
At least 3,000 families in the boundaries of Pikit and
Pagalungan, were displaced by a clan war involving Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) fighters.
The internally displaced persons (IPD) are now staying in
government facilities converted into evacuation centers by the local
government.
Benito assured that DSWD has enough supply of food packs
ready for distribution to the affected families.
"The local government of Pikit has already extended
initial assistance, ours are just support because we do not know how long the
IDPs stay in evacuation centers," Benito said.
While food packs are enough, Benito admitted they lack
manpower to help in repacking goods for the affected families.
"We welcome volunteers to help us repack the goods for
delivery to the affected families," she said.
At least 20,000 civilians from two towns in Maguindanao and
North Cotabato have been displaced when rival MILF and BIFF clashed in the village of Kalbugan
On Friday night, the military's 7th Infantry Battalion has
launched offensives against the BIFF and pursuit operations are still on going
as of posting.
Artillery fire had been directed toward the village of Kabasalan ,
Pikit, North Cotabato where the BIFF had been
staying since Monday after it occupied the village and four other adjoining
communities in the marshland.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=737768
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