Philippines Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 11 | November-December 2016

From Relief Web (Dec 13): Philippines Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 11 | November-December 2016

For a complete copy of the bulletin go the following URL:
file:///C:/Users/Norm/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/IE/9MMEI7QG/OCHAPhilippines_Humanitarian_Bulletin_No11_12_NovemberDecember_2016_FINAL%20(2).pdf

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Indigenous community continue to undergo protracted displacement in Mindanao, where they lack access to basic social services.
• Skills training in Zamboanga City support peacebuilding efforts and help families displaced by the 2013 conflict.
• Typhoon Haima affected regions have shifted from emergency response to recovery, with housing, infrastructure and agricultural damage being one of the major concerns.

FIGURES

Typhoon Haima
# of displaced persons* 2,376,723
# of damaged or destroyed houses* 271,164
# of affected farmers** 41,298
(Source: *DSWD as of 14 November
**FAO as of 4 November)

Butig Displacement
# of IDPs 15,000
(Source: ARMM-HEART as of 12 December)

Zamboanga Crisis
# of IDPs in transitional sites 11,000
(Source: Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Office as of 28 November)

Indigenous Peoples (IP) Displacement in Mindanao

In eastern Mindanao, the conflict between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) —the military arm of the Community Party of the Philippines —has subsided since the announcement of an agreed ceasefire in August 2016. This has allowed the return of 830 displaced persons affected by conflict in the municipality of Malimono, Surigao del Norte province.

About 3,000 IPs displaced for a year in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur province, have also returned to their homes in the municipality of LIanga after an agreement was reached to pull out military from the area.

The Manobo, Mamanua and Teduray are indigenous tribes that live in the provinces of Maguidanao, Bukidnon, Agusan, Surigao del Norte, Davao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

These areas are frequently subject to conflict, particularly among NPA and AFP, causing them to fear the shrinking of their ancestral domain and cultural identity. Over the years, they have migrated into forested hinterlands and mountainous areas far from urban and fast developing centres, where they lack access to basic social services, schools, health and other socioeconomic development. While the ceasefire has given them hope and enabled them to peacefully return to their homes, protection of these communities and their cultural ways of life remains important.

Update on displaced Manobos and Kapalongs in Davao City

Datu Ginam Andel is one of the leaders of about 700 Manobos from the municipality of Talaingod in Bukidnon province. They have encamped in Haran Mission House of United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Davao City for more than a year. He is still worried about the safety and security of his community. While a majority of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to places near their homes, a paramilitary group called Alamara have prevented them from returning home, according to Datu Ginam. The AFP pulled out its troops in September, a pre-requisite demanded by the tribe, but he says the paramilitary group is demanding payment before they allow the rest of the IPs to return.

“We hope to return peacefully in December as we count on the peace agreement, as well as the pull out and disarmament of the paramilitary groups.” He says the mountainous areas where the tribes live have attracted large mining and logging companies that have made life difficult since 1994. Frequent skirmishes have also been reported between NPA and the private militia of these companies causing repeated displacement. The Haran camp in Davao City continues to host about 200 families from the Kapalong IP community who fear returning to their homes. Various local government agencies, civil society organizations, faith-based groups and other private organizations are providing immediate food assistance, and the children go to local schools near the camp. The camp leaders have agreed to be accompanied by government agency representatives, including the Philippine National Police, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Interior and Local Government, when they return home in December.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:

To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit http://unocha.org/.

http://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-humanitarian-bulletin-issue-11-november-december-2016