I. Background
On 23 May 2017, a fire fight incident transpired between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and members of the Maute Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iran and Syria (ISIS).The incident has affected all residents of Barangays Marawi Poblacion (Sarimanok Road), Basak Malutlut, Bangon, Tuca, Calocan East, Marinaut West, and Kilala of Marawi City. Residents of the city were not allowed to go out from their respective houses for security reasons. Exchange of gunfire in Barangays Tuca, Caloocan, and northern Marinaut has not stopped and roads leading to the city are being blocked both by government forces and Maute militants.
As of July 19, 2017:
114,715 families or 522,777 persons have been displaced by the armed conflict in Marawi, per accumulated data
87 Evacuation Centers (ECs) are currently open with 4,970 families or 26,991 persons
97,788 internally displaced families or 438,701 persons tracked in 378 barangays in 8 Regions: Regions VI, NIR, VII, X, XI, XII, CARAGA, and ARMM
The effect of this unrest has displaced families/persons coming from all 96 barangays of Marawi; from 20 other municipalities of Lanao del Sur(Balindong (Watu), Bayang, Binidayan, Buadiposo-Buntong, Bubong, Butig, Calanogas, Ditsaan-Ramain, Ganassi, Kapai, Lumba-Bayabao (Maguing), Lumbatan, Madamba, Madalum, Marantao, Masiu, Mulondo, Poona Bayabao (Gata), Saguiaran, and Tugaya); and from 2 municipalities of Lanao del Norte(Kolambungan and Sultan Naga Dimaporo / Karomatan).
II. Balay Mindanaw’s Response
Balay Mindanaw has been one of the many CSOs that immediately responded to the crisis situation by activating the Balay Mindanaw Group Operations Center, coordinating with other local partners and organizations, issuing a call for support to our local and international partners and even individuals, and providing available resources pre-positioned at the Balay Mindanaw DREAM Hub.
The Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) and Eisenhower Fellows Association of the Philippines (EFAP) were among our partners who also immediately responded to Balay Mindanaw’s call for support. Particularly, the support is intended for home-based IDPs as there are observations that they have lesser access to relief support compared to those at the Evacuation Centers.
Three major criteria were considered in the identification of beneficiaries/areas: (1) most in need; (2) underserved; and, (3) safe/secure.
III. Relief Distribution
After a series of community assessments and in consultation and coordination with local CSOs and the City/Municipal Local Government Units (MLGU) particularly the Social Welfare and Development Office, the team has identified three barangays in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur and in Brgy. Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City as focus for the relief assistance.
While car passes are not easily issued for humanitarian organizations providing relief in Saguiaran because of security concerns, the team was firm in its decision to pursue distribution in the three barangays as clearly the assistance was needed. But protocols were observed by the team in coordination with the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), local groups and the MLGU to also ensure the safety and security of the Balay Mindanaw Team and volunteers. For Brgy. Nazareth, the CDO CSWD informed that these are newly identified home-based IDPs. The city has not provided assistance yet to IDPs seeking shelter to relatives in the barangay and recommended as focus of the relief assistance.
A total of fifty volunteers were mobilized for the hauling and repacking of 1,200 food packs and 1,200 dignity kits which took about 4 days to finish.
Municipality of Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur
The second leg of relief distribution for the Municipality of Saguiaran was conducted last July 8, this time covering another three barangays, namely: barangays Limugao, Lumbanayague, and Mipaga. In coordination with the MSWD, both food and dignity kits were provided to 600 home-based IDPs in these barangays, containing the following items: (1) Food pack: 5 kilos rice, ½ kilo mongo, ½ kilo sugar, 6 sachets Milo, 6 sachets coffee, 3 Tuna Canned Goods; and (2) Dignity Kit: 4 pcs Toothbrush, 3 pcs soap, 6 Sachet Shampoo, 1 tube toothpaste, 1 pack Sanitary Pads. 1 dipper, 1 bar laundry soap.
| Barangays | Target Families to be Served | Actual Families Served |
| Limugao | 142 | 154 |
| Lumbanayague | 195 | 202 |
| Sub-Total Saguiaran Families | 567 | 586 |
| Partner Volunteers | 33 | 14 |
| Total | 600 | 600 |
In total, the Balay Mindanaw Marawi ER Operations has already provided assistance to 1,489 home-based IDPs in seven barangays in the Municipality of Saguiran.
Local partners like the Pailig Development Foundation, Inc., Bangsamoro Youth Leadership Program (BYLP) Volunteers and Marawi Youth Responders (MYR), Peace in Our Hearts (POH) and a representative from Pambansang Kilusan ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK) assisted in the preparations / ground working and actual relief distribution together with the Balay Mindanaw Team and some fellows who volunteered during our previous ER Operations. The municipality also provided 3 local volunteers to assist in the distribution.
In partnership with the Bangsamoro Youth Leadership Program (BYLP) Volunteers and Marawi Youth Responders (MYR) and Peace in Our Hearts (POH), Balay Mindanaw also conducted psychosocial activities for 548 children in barangays Limugao (201), Lumbanayague (200) and Mipaga (147) – segregated into 3 age groups: 3-5 yo (57 kids) doing coloring, singing; 6-9 yo (80 kids) doing storytelling, coloring, chanting; and, 10-15 yo (64 kids) doing mandala coloring, indoor-outdoor games, singing, reciting Quran verses. Materials used for the PSS activities were provided by the partners.
City of Cagayan de Oro
Almost 2 months since the Marawi Crisis, evacuation of families from Marawi City is still increasing, significantly. In Cagayan de Oro City, 120 kilometers from Marawi City, the population of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who’ve sought temporary shelters in the City have reached 6,488 families or 18, 536 Individuals and is still increasing daily.
Responding to the growing humanitarian needs, Balay Mindanaw and its partners and volunteers from the Local Government Units, Interfaith Groups and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) through the generous support of Eisenhower Fellows Association of the Philippines (EFAP) extended Relief Assistance to Barangay Nazareth, one of the 43 barangays in Cagayan de Oro City currently a big number of evacuees from Marawi City.
Last July 18, 2017, Balay Mindanaw distributed Food Packs and Dignity Kits to a total of 560 home-based IDPs/ families in Barangay Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City. A total of 600 food packs and dignity kits were prepared just in case there will be some IDPs or host families who will also be requesting for additional assistance. Upon recommendation of the CSWD, another 10 food packs and dignity kit were distributed in Brgy. 10 while the remaining packs for 30 families were turned over to Bangko sa Balay Foundation, Inc. (BBFI) – Carmen Branch for clients who were also hosting IDPs from Marawi.
Each family was able to receive the following items:
| Food Items | Non Food Items (Dignity Kits) |
| 5 Kgs of Rice | 4 pcs tooth brush |
| 1 whole dressed Chicken | 3 pcs Bath Soap |
| 1 dozen fresh eggs | 6 sachets Shampoo |
| 1 tube Toothpaste | |
| 1 pack Sanitary Pads | |
| 1 bar laundry soap | |
| 1 water dipper |
But what happened last July 18 at Barangay Nazareth is not just a regular day of relief distribution but, also of survival and another day of hope, because another group – the Global Mindanaw Polytechnic, Inc (GMPI), a sister organization of Balay Mindanaw, announced that they will be assisting in the Skills Training of TESDA, especially programmed for the IDPs.
IV. Project Summary
Number of beneficiaries
| Barangay | Barangays Lumbanayage, Limugao and Mipaga | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur | ||
| Date | July 8, 2017 | ||
| Planned (# of families) | Actual (# of families) | % (actual/planned) | |
| Food pack | 500 | 600 | |
| Dignity Kit | 500 | 600 | |
| Total | 1,000 | 1,200 | 1.2 |
| Barangay | Brgy. Nazareth, Brgy. 10 and BBFI | ||
| City | Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental | ||
| Date | July 8, 2017 | ||
| Planned (# of families) | Actual (# of families) | % (actual/planned) | |
| Families | 500 | 600 | |
| Dignity Kit | 500 | 600 | |
| Total | 1,000 | 1,200 | 1.2 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 2,000 | 2,400 | 1.2 |
There were some deviations in the actual implementation from what was originally planned by the team:
On # of beneficiaries / families. In the planning, the team targeted 1000 home-based IDPs each for the provision of food pack and dignity kit in CDO / Mis. Or. and Iligan (500 families for each area). However, after considering the identified barangay, the number would either exceed or is less than the target number. One of Balay Mindanaw’s principle in relief distribution is “doing no harm” so we really made sure that all beneficiaries in one barangay are provided for to avoid complaints from among the beneficiaries. Additional funds from other donors for the Balay Mindanaw Marawi ER were used to ensure all affected families will be provided with food packs and dignity kits.
On content of food pack. The original planned content was: rice, canned good, mongo beans, and energy drink. There were already many reports that IDPs have already been complaining because they have been receiving and eating sardines since day 1 of their evacuation. Some have already resorted to selling the canned goods they have received just so they can buy other alternative food. This feedback was considered in purchasing items that have been included in the food pack during the actual distribution. (rice, halal dressed chicken, eggs specifically for Brgy. Nazareth food pack).
V. Reporting
Balay Mindanaw has been regularly sending weekly reports on our Marawi Emergency response initiatives. These reports are posted at our website and Facebook page.
We have also made it a point to provide information on our relief distribution supported by different partners to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) for transparency, monitoring and acknowledgement of our donors / supporters.
VI. Recommendations
In the recent Situational Report provided by the NEOC, the following are still identified as gaps in addressing the needs of the IDPs, both at the Evacuation Centers and Home-based:
Food and Non-Food Items
Needs / Issues:
Home-based IDPs in Iligan City need kitchen kits, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and hygiene kits
All ECs need supplies like logbooks, bond papers, fasteners, staplers and folders for proper filing of records inside ECs
ECs in Balo-i, especially the elderly IDPs need comfortable sleeping area (as much as possible with sleeping foams and enough electric fans), portable urinals, flashlights, slippers for kids, and umbrellas
Gaps & Constraints:
Daily increase in the number of IDPs affects the established distribution plan of food and non-food items that is due to multiple DAFAC entries
Health
Needs:
Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Coordination with DPWH on construction of drainage system and permanent CR in Buru-un SF and permanent CR in Tent Area in Campong, Pantar
Availability of potable water
Availability of toilets, handwashing, and bathing facilities
DOH ARMM: Sanitation facilities in ECs and home-based IDPs
Continuity of activities of Camp Manager if to be replaced
There are “unrecognized” ECs
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
MHPSS providers for Maranao-speaking IDPs(lacking)
Names of referred clients with mental health problems for provision of medication
MHPSS providers in ARMM areas
Gaps & Constraints:
Lack of water containers or jerry cans
With the extent and number of displaced families due to the Marawi Crisis, the Balay Mindanaw Resource Mobilization Committee continues to seek help from partners and raise funds to help augment the needs of the IDPs.