MANILA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Recent clashes between Philippine security forces and insurgents have displaced nearly 50,000 villagers in the southern island of Mindanao, according to data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
In Maguindanao province in central Mindanao, fighting between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and a faction of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Abu Turaifie displaced 35,235 persons from four municipalities.
"The IDPs (internally displaced persons) are sheltered in schools and madrasas," OCHA said in a recent report.
It said the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Humanitarian Emergency Action Team has responded with food packs.
The local municipal authorities from the area have also provided food assistance, OCHA said.
The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and non-governmental organizations are planning to respond with shelter materials, water and sanitation, school supplies to augment the government response, OCHA added.
Renewed fighting on March 11 and March 14 between AFP and remnants of the Maute armed group in the province of Lanao del Sur displaced a total of 8,911 people or 1,782 families, OCHA reported.
"The population displaced from two municipalities are sheltered in schools, madrasas and home based with relatives," OCHA said.
It said the ICRC carried out rapid assessment of the needs and are planning to provide assistance including food packs, mats, jerrycans, blankets, mosquito nets and hygiene kits. The local authorities have distributed food packs to the displaced families.
The Maute terrorists are responsible for the conflict of Marawi City in May 2017 that triggered a five-month urban battle that displaced thousands.
Fighting between the AFP and the Abu Sayyaf armed group displaced 5,160 persons in Sulu province on Feb. 25, according to OCHA.
OCHA said this has affected the municipalities of Patikul and Tongkil where the group is believed to be also holding foreigners for ransom.
"Due to high risk of kidnapping, access remains limited," OCHA said.
The Sulu provincial government has provided food packs to the displaced population. UNHCR working with local NGOs has distributed kitchen sets, mats and tarpaulins to the IDPs. The local Red Cross and Women Organization (Matau Katsi) have provided food packs.
One year and five months after the Marawi was liberated from the clutches of the militants, OCHA said a total of 66,000 people displaced from Marawi conflict remain sheltered in evacuation centers, transitory sites and home-based locations.
Of these, OCHA said 4,500 people are in evacuation sites and 8,600 people are in transitory sites. The government plans to transfer 364 families to new Boganga Transitory Site before end of March this year, it said.
Water and sanitation remain a priority in various sites as water supply is insufficient given the limited actors providing water interventions, OCHA said.
Citing reports, the ICRC said in a separate report that clashes over the past several weeks also caused casualties and injuries among parties to the conflict and among the civilians.
"Despite complex access due to the fighting, the ICRC teams from different offices on the ground have been assessing the humanitarian needs on the ground, and have started to provide direct response, working in coordination with other actors, notably the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)," the ICRC said in a statement.
The ICRC said that around 180 families in the municipalities of San Fernando and Malaybalay in Bukdinon province have fled their villages since February due to clashes.
"Living conditions are dire for the evacuees who sleep on the floor without mats and blankets. Access to water and sanitation facilities are constrained," the ICRC added.
