ARMM relief unit, ICRC to extend aid to Lanao Sur conflict-hit residents

From the Philippine News Agency (May 30): ARMM relief unit, ICRC to extend aid to Lanao Sur conflict-hit residents

The emergency relief unit of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will embark on massive relief operations to thousands of displaced families in Lanao del Sur affected by continuing skirmishes that started last week, officials said today.

ARMM Vice Gov. Al Rahis Lucman, who hails from Lanao, today met with the officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for partnership in the delivery of relief aid to affected families, mostly women and children, who belonged to the farmer sector.

Fighting between government forces and militant Moro extremists broke out over the weekend, leaving scores killed and displacing thousands of civilians in Butig, Lanao del Sur.

Reports from the Office of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. showed that residents from the conflict affected villages of Coloyan, Samer, Bayabao, Raya Timbab, Sandab and Ragayan cavated their homes in a hurry when fighting erupted Friday.

Many of whom left their valuables and work animals for fear they might be caught in the cross fire.

Initial military reports said more than 22 persons have been killed, mostly from the group of Abdullah Maute, leader of the jihadist group which claimed allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last year.

Government forces were conducting pursuit operations against the group of Maute who ambushed and killed government forces conducting patrol in Butig, a remote hinterland town east of Lanao del Sur just across the Lake Lanao.

Soldiers were sent to the mountains of Butig after reports said Maute and his group were roaming around displaying ISIS flags and threatening civilians.

While the military were out to neutralize the jihadists, Adiong said the provincial relief unit have started attending to the emergency needs of the displaced families.

To date, about 1,500 villagers were affected by the hostilities and are temporarily housed in nearby villages of Samer, Sandig and Malungon, also in Butig town.

The relief unit of ARMM, the Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART) will distribute relief goods Tuesday in the affected villages.

Military reports said fighting was still raging in the mountains of Butig with two helicopter gunships providing air support, pounding the terrorists with rocket fires.

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