LONGING FOR HOME. A Muslim mother and her pregnant daughter wait for the go-signal from the military and town officials of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao for them to return home soon in their community on Monday (Dec. 2, 2019). Almost 2,000 families from at least six villages in Shariff Aguak were displaced by the ongoing military operations in the area that started on Nov. 24, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Shariff Aguak MIO)
TACURONG CITY -- Almost 2,000 internally displaced persons received aid from the local government of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, on Saturday while another relief operation is forthcoming, officials said Monday.
Datu Anwar Kuit Emblawa, municipal information officer and executive secretary of Mayor Marop B. Ampatuan, said the families fled their homes when government forces and outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) clashed in Shariff Saydona Mustapha on November 24.
Government forces from Army’s 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) have launched surgical operations against Dawlah Islamiyah and BIFF in the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Saudi Ampatuan), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, also known as “SPMS” box, the area of operation of the BIFF.
Rocky Romancap, Shariff Aguak municipal social welfare office, said a total of 1,945 displaced families (11,600 individuals) from six affected villages of Shariff Aguak have received relief aid from the local disaster team as ordered by the mayor.
Each family received a package composed of five kilos of rice, canned goods, coffee, and noodles. Emblawa said the displaced families were also provided with safe drinking water to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases in evacuation sites.
“The drinking water is being provided for the displaced people daily,” Emblawa said. Emblawa spent some time talking to the affected families and said many of them really wanted to return home.
“The evacuees want to go home because they are productive in their communities than in temporary shelters,” Emblawa said.
He said mothers also worry about their children being exposed to various diseases while at evacuation camps.
Emblawa said that displaced families from the neighboring towns of Shariff Saydona Mustapha and Mamasapano are also being attended to by their respective local government units.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1087634
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