Mindanao Conflict

General situation

Fighting between Muslim separatist rebels and government troops in the southern Philippines escalated as peace talks between the rebels and the government crumbled. On August 17, 2008, the Philippine military contingent in Lanao del Norte was attacked by rebel fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front group.

At dawn of August 18, 2008, the village of Kolasihan and municipality of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte were attacked and occupied by about 1,000 rebel forces causing a massive evacuation from the 26 villages in Kolambugan and the neighboring municipalities of Bacolod, Kauswagan, Linamon, Magsaysay, Maigo, Matungad, Pantao, Poona Piagapo, Munai and Iligan City.

The recent fighting arose out of a dispute over a Memorandum of Agreement on the Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, part of a conflict that has existed for the past 40 years. The National Disaster Coordinating Council in its latest report on August 25 said the number of internally displaced people had risen to more than 270,000.

ACT response:  The ACT Coordinating Office has received the following response information from its members working in the Philippines:

Christian Aid

Christian Aid is planning to help affected communities with emergency and short-term rehabilitation needs. Christian Aid has worked on emergency and development programmes in the country through its partners for more than 20 years. Specific to the conflict in Lanao del Norte, Christian Aid will be working through its partners, Muslim Christian Agency for Advocacy, Relief and Development (MuCAARD) and Unlad Kabayan, which both have emergency response training. MuCAARD has also been involved in complex emergency humanitarian response.

Christian Aid plans to assist 3,500 displaced households.  These households have either evacuated or need to be evacuated to either Marawi City (from Munai and neighboring municipalities), Ozamis City (from Kolambugan) or Iligan City (from Linamon and Kausawagan).

Identified needs include the immediate and safe evacuation of affected residents caught in the crossfire, transportation assistance (rental of trucks and pumpboats) for the evacuees, and relief assistance including  bedkits, medicines, food and psychosocial care once evacuated.

The Christian Aid rapid response and assessment team composed of Christian Aid partners trained in emergency response management and disaster risk reduction, will provide support to MuCAARD and Unlad Kabayan in the actual implementation of the proposed humanitarian assistance.

Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS)

HEKS is currently exploring emergency assistance through its partner organization, Balay Rehabilitation Center, which has an office in Kidapawan. Balay Rehabilitation Center has operated for many years in North Cotabato.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR)

LWR is responding through its office in Cagayan de Oro with a response of US$40,000 targeting the government designated evacuation centers in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte (covering municipalities of Linamon, Kolalbogan, Bacolod, Maigo, Tubod and Iligan City all in the province of Lanao del Norte). Initial target groups include approximately 3,000 families with food and non-food items. Local partners include the Lutheran Church, Ranao Bay MERN and the Peace and Equity Foundation. LWR's office is also  discussing other options with Save the Children and Oxfam through an international non-governmental organisation coordination body (LWR is currently the chair). In addition to this immediate response, LWR is planning to assist another 3000 families with partner Mahintana Foundation in Saragani province, South Cotabato.  LWR is also in the beginning phase of establishing a warehouse in Mindanao, which should be operational in early fall with initial stocks of material resources.

The ACT Coordinating Office awaits further information and proposals from its members.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).