240 families flee Tipo-Tipo due to military clearing ops vs Abu Sayyaf

From InterAksyon (Apr 15): 240 families flee Tipo-Tipo due to military clearing ops vs Abu Sayyaf

Some 240 families have fled Tipo-Tipo in Basilan for fear of being caught in the crossfire due to the military clearing operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Barangays Silangkong and Baguindan have become ghost towns, said Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia.

The 173 families from Silangkong and the 75 families from Baguindan are now staying in evacuation centers, she said.

In relation to this, the ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action Respose Team will look into the conditions of the evacuees and are set to bring them relief goods.

The 10-man team of ARMM HEART is set to leave for Basilan today for a two-day relief operation carrying 400 food packs of rice, canned goods, and noodles.

Since a few days ago, several soldiers have been wounded and some ASG casualties have been monitored due to the military operations launched against the ASG and its increased kidnapping activities.

This has prompted ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman to call on the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to help the authorities stop the menace of kidnapping in the island-province of Basilan and the rest of Mindanao.

Hataman hopes the peace and order situation in ARMM will improve before the Bangsamoro government takes over.

The ARMM leadership also urged the region’s residents to help fight those who are sowing violence.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/84833/240-families-flee-tipo-tipo-due-to-military-clearing-ops-vs-abu-sayyaf