The Dispalced in the Philippines 🇵🇭

01/12/18 04:32

In the second part of 2015, my work brought me back to the Philippines, this time to the south of the country, specifically Cotabato City and its surrounding areas. From Cotabato, I travelled by car to visit several Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, where we were overseeing humanitarian projects addressing protection, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), health services, education in emergencies, and livelihood restoration for communities affected by conflict and displacement.

The Conflict in Southern Philippines

The southern Philippines, particularly the Mindanao region, has been a hotspot for conflict for decades. The root causes of displacement and instability in this part of the country are deeply intertwined with historical, socio-economic, and political issues.
1. Historical Background:
• The conflict traces back to the colonial era, when Mindanao’s predominantly Muslim population—known as the Moro people—were marginalised under successive Spanish and American colonial administrations. These powers sought to integrate Mindanao into the predominantly Christian Philippines, displacing Moro communities and altering the region’s demographic and cultural composition.
• Land disputes were a key issue, with indigenous Moro and Lumad (indigenous non-Muslim) communities losing control over ancestral lands.
2. Emergence of Armed Movements:
• In the 1970s, resistance to government policies and marginalisation led to the rise of armed groups such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and later the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), both fighting for greater autonomy or independence.
• Splinter factions like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) emerged, adding complexity to the conflict.
• More recently, extremist groups like Abu Sayyaf and affiliates of ISIS have also exploited instability in the region to expand their influence, often resorting to kidnappings and acts of terrorism.
3. Displacement and Humanitarian Impact:
• The conflict has caused widespread displacement over the decades, with families forced to flee violence and live in camps or informal settlements.
• Communities have faced interruptions in access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods.
• Prolonged insecurity has perpetuated cycles of poverty and hindered development in the region.
4. Attempts at Peace:
• Efforts have been made to resolve the conflict, including the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the Philippine government and MILF.
• The agreement led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019, granting the region greater autonomy.
• However, implementation challenges, localised violence, and issues with extremist factions continue to affect peacebuilding efforts.

Humanitarian Needs and Response

During my visit to the camps in Cotabato and surrounding areas, the projects focused on addressing the multi-faceted needs of the displaced communities:
1. Protection:
• Ensuring safety for vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, and addressing issues like gender-based violence and child protection.
2. WASH:
• Installing and maintaining water systems, latrines, and hygiene facilities to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
3. Health Services:
• Supporting clinics and mobile health teams to provide essential medical care, including maternal and child health.
4. Education in Emergencies:
• Setting up temporary learning spaces and ensuring children’s continued access to education, even in displacement settings.
5. Livelihood Restoration:
• Assisting families to rebuild their livelihoods through vocational training, agricultural support, and small business grants.

My time in the south of the Philippines was both heartbreaking. Witnessing the challenges faced by displaced families was a stark reminder of the enduring consequences of protracted conflict. However, seeing the resilience of the affected communities and the dedication of humanitarian workers provided hope that positive change is possible.

The experience also deepened my appreciation for the complexity of the situation in Mindanao and the importance of a multi-faceted approach to address both immediate needs and long-term peacebuilding efforts.

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The Dispalced in the Philippines 🇵🇭