Archives (12th July 2017): Displacment in the Philippines' Mindanao

01/12/18 01:49

Just landed back to Bangkok after an intense trip to Mindanao, the Philippines’ island located in the south of the country. I visited a town of Iligan, the northern city of the island, which is home to a large displacement of people, fleeing the bloody conflict between islamic insurgents and the forces of the Government of the Philippines.

The fighting that started in Marawi started at the end of May 2017, and so far has claimed hundreds of lives and missing, and produced over 350,000 flee the war zones. Marawi is reported to be completely ruined, and when the war finishes, it will need to be rebuild from a scratch. Rebuilding cities is not an easy task and takes forever, so clearly the question remains: how we will be able to take care of the thousands of homeless people, who had lost all their worldly possessions? When visiting Iligan, I did not have any impression of that anyone knew the answers to this questions. The humanitarian response to the needs of the people was poorly organised and extremely chaotic. A vast majority have not received any help, and are in a desperate state. They need clean water, food, clothes, and a safe shelter… none of which is readily available. Diseases are spreading and the health services are not coping. Truly shocking and saddening!

A purpose of my visit was to establish what my organisation could do to help out. While we do have clarity of what should be done, we are struggling with resources. There is just not enough money to do anything meaningful at this moment. It seems like the humanity is unable to cope with the amount of crises, and is closing its eyes at people who suffer and desperately need saving. A paradox of our times, I would say. The world of plenty that we live in, is also the world of arrogance and lack of compassion.

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Archives (12th July 2017): Displacment in the Philippines' Mindanao