Accelerating Aid for Mindanao's War Victims

Children and women bear the brunt of the war in Mindanao, Philippines. The assistance in terms of food and non-food items for them is difficult to deliver.While politicians continue to be blind to this, the internally displaced people continue to suffer. There is some hope though. A gathering of NGOs have started the Mindanao Emergecny Response Network (MERN) intends to change all that. respknse

Davao City, Philippines (PRWEB) March 9, 2004 --War does not only kill but also maims. It leaves scars that can never be healed. Scars that forever symbolize inhuman and senseless cruelty.

Andres Mandiya is a 13 year old pain-stricken cripple. What legs used to hang below his knees have all been shattered by deadly machine gun slugs. He talks to no one at daytime. At night, his intermittent screams pierce the silent dark nights of an evacuation camp. (Pagalungan, Maguindanao, Human Rights Violations Statistical Report, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, October 2003).

Haji Alujah, 9, and his 7 year old brother Haran, are luckier, depending on how one sees them. They run with ease around the refugee camp and smile innocently. But when asked where their parents are, Hajis face contorts grotesquely. His eyes throw menacing dagger looks that could kill. His Muslim parents were found dead one day, a hundred meters away from the evacuation camp where they sought food. His father was headless. His pregnant was mother slashed mercilessly, (Interview with Father Berrt Layson, OMI of Pikit Project Immaculate Concepcion) January 13, 2004)

Meliza Rigaza is no better. She lurks in the dark corner of their falling shanty which once stood proudly before murderous howitzers blasted craters right where her mother dried laundry. Hiding her lithe 12 year frame away from the eyes of prying strangers, she cries. Sometimes, all day, strangely. For reasons unknown yet eerily haunting.(Basag, Tboli, South Cotabato. Human Rights Violations Statistical Report, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, July 2003)

They are the children of war in Mindanao. Born innocently amongst battle-ravaged parents and stripped of their right to exist peacefully.

They are scarred for life not only by hunger and sickness but more so by painful memories, unknown psychological sufferings and inhuman traumatic hardships. All brought about by the unending and fast spreading useless battles in the island.

These children present the real faces of the war in the island. Not the kind that shutter-hungry photojournalists have shown in media-of young girls and boys holding to guns and staring death in its face. But just faces of scared and terrified youths, fearful and yearning merely to live in peace.

Endangering Children, Killing Hope
It is difficult to ascertain the real number of children affected by the war in Mindanao. What is undeniable is that it is increasing. Many are being killed. Many left seriously injured or permanently disabled. Many more are left homeless, orphaned and separated from their parents. An unknown but growing number suffer from serious psychological and social trauma.

Save the Children US believes that the protection of these children from armed conflict is essential Since March 2003, it started to provide humanitarian assistance for some 4,428 families and 1,500 children through a Children in Emergencies Crisis program. Later on, it launched a    Disaster Preparedness and Response (DPR) program for Mindanao.

SCs effort is part of a united move by the USA, European Union, Japan, Canada, Australia and various donors who have not closed their eyes to the ongoing inhuman suffering and bloodshed, Noting the deteriorating situation, these with United Nations agencies like UNDP and UNICEF and international NGOs increased existing development support assistance and created several mechanisms to provide aid to the victims of the war, especially for children and women. They pledged about $2 billion dollars for the island in 2001 for the antagonists to conclude a fledging peace process. But peace is looking more farther than nearer. More people are suffering. The Mindanao war is pushing Internally Displaced People (IDP), especially children and women to the brink of death.

IDPs Facing Endless Hardships
The number of internally displaced people (IDP), particularly children and women, in the island escalated in the early 2000 when the government launched an all out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) even as military campaign kept on against other anti-government forces like the splinter Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Abu Sayaf, and Pentagon Kidnap for Ransom Gang. It sky-rocketed to an unmanageable level of more than 800,000 in March 2000. (DSWD Report on Evacuees, December 200)

As of March 2003, some 70,000 displaced families still lived in evacuation centers and ill-prepared refugee camps. The number decreased in September 25, 2003 to some 34,442 people from 6,007 families cramped in 61 evacuation centers in 10 municipalities and one city of Basilan, Sulu, Magunidanao, Lanao del Sur. And Marawi City, respectively. (2nd Quarter Year 1, 2003. Save the Children Quarterly Report).

But this is not the total picture. Overall, the United States Committee for Refugees and the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees say that there are about 300,000 or so IDPs in Mindanao, out of the 900,000 IDPs in the country. Of the total, some 19,600 have sought asylum elsewhere.

These people are wallowing in very poor living conditions. They are plagued by hunger, malnutrition, poor water quality, poor sanitation, malaria, and other deadly diseases. The people of this resource rich island have known more hardship and cruelty than peace in most of their history. The endless military clashes have already killed 250,000 people since 1980. (Convenor Report, Mindanao War Victims, June 2002)

In Mindanao, thousands of IDPs still languish in evacuation camps despite government pronouncements that there are no more such camps, Fr. Bert Layson, OMI, Pikit Project Immaculate Concepcion said. The evacuees are afraid. They have nothing to go back to in their barangays. Their homes were destroyed. Their farm animals and livestock either dead or sold. The water facilities are damaged. Tall grasses have grown in their farms. They have no money to buy seeds. The war made them penniless and homeless.

Disaster Preparedness and Response: A Pressing Need
It is ironic to note that for the many decades that Mindanao suffered from war, little has been done , if any effort was made, to establish a united, concerted, and organized program for disaster preparedness and response, especially for war victims, by government line agencies and non-government organizations.

This is the reason the SC launched a Disaster Preparedness and Response (DPR) Program for Mindanao. When their community becomes the battlefield, women and children bear the brunt of the impact of war", said Matilde Nida C. Vilches, Manager for Administration and Children in Emergencies and Crisis/Emergency Response Programming of SC Philippine Field Office. These vulnerable part of the society are a segment of the larger civilian population affected by war who warrant special considerations through organized efforts," she added.

The considerations being referred to include measures to ensure childrens rights as called for by the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), providing alleviation to those displaced, particularly women; ensuring physical security, facilitating access to food and non-food items and appropriate health care; education and skills training, to allowing participation of affected groups and development agencies in the execution of projects and allocation of resources.

The rights of children was stressed strongly once by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata who said. It is sad that infants and young children are often the earliest victims of suffering due to war. They deserve the most immediate assistance of any kind,"
Indeed, such reality is shared by SC which adheres strongly to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). In providing such assistance, SC lives by its mission of working with families to define and solve the problems their children and communities face and utilizing a broad array of strategies to ensure self-sufficiency .
According to Vilches, the SC-DPR program aims to support line agencies and a network of non-government organizations in the area of disaster preparedness and responsive activities that eventually will spell out their own development directions.

This is because with so many organizations providing humanitarian services, there is a need for improved coordination of disaster preparedness/emergency relief since emergency food, shelter and clothing, are only short-term measures. DPR/Mindanao Program seeks to move disaster victims from relief to recovery and rehabilitation as soon as possible, Vilches disclosed.

In its early stage, the program noted that emergency assistance was barely enough and appropriate. It then led efforts that united government line agencies, international NGOs and local NGOs in providing a more wholesome approach of dealing with the problems faced by internally displaced people and how they can propel themselves out of helplessness.

Mindanao Emergency Response Network (MERN): Rising to the Challenge

To strengthen the DPR for Mindanao, the Mindanao Emergency Response Network (MERN) was established with SC as the Secretariat assisted by GOP-UNMDP3 Component on Emergency Response, Relief and Rehabilitation...

The Network, composed of 36 organizations, 25 of which are local NGOs, ten international NGOs and one multilateral agency-the United Nations Multi-Donor Programme (UNMDP). They committed to accept the responsibility of helping disaster victims rebuild their lives and their communities so that they can sustain themselves.

MERNs objective is to improve coordination of disaster preparedness and emergency relief such that there is speed and efficiency to respond to cases of displacement", Cynthia Guerra Manager of DPR/Mindanao Project, SC-US said.

This means MERN members should be ever-ready to identify displacement centers once war-related conflicts erupt and be able to steer and assist affected families to these evacuation sites". To ensure that immediate needs of evacuees will be met, stockpiles of food and non-food commodities have been prepared strategically", she added.    

Since a large number of IDPs continue to be dependent on international assistance, it is often noted that bare subsistence nature, even at the best of times can not be brought to where it is needed due to logistics, accessibility problems and little coordination among the various sectors of assistance-food, health, education, skills training, for example-to encourage independence," she said.

Over and above MERNs mandate is the organizations genuine desire to help the victims of war and help promote a lasting peace in the island. The faces of the evacuees are overwhelmingly the faces of women and children. For the women, and children, life is hard and often dangerous. They are victims of war and oppression and even with all the external aid coming in, we can only do so little to give them the peace and good life they long hoped for", Guerra emphasized..

To understand better the dynamics of disaster preparedness, Guerra said MERN has started organizing capability improvement activities tailored for disaster management for MERN organization and government line staff. MERN members are firming up readiness for emergency humanitarian support by strengthening their emergency management capabilities.

They are honing their skills in handling crisis to better facilitate humanitarian assistance to Mindanaoans affected by arm conflicts, natural calamities and other forms of disaster.

"There is a network on the ground but we want to complement it in order to strengthen the delivery mechanism of the non-government organizations. We must put our acts together and that will surely uphold the rights of the internally displaced people on the ground, "Guerra added.

"There is a need for government and non-government groups to pool together and harmonize strategies to address the humanitarian needs of Mindanao. she said, stressing "in as much as we are trying to work for peace in Mindanao, we still need to respond to the emergency needs given all the realities going on in the island." Mindanao NGOs and government agencies must be able to "operationalize an emergency management plan despite the different systems and policies", she clamored.

To concretize the plan, it called for periodic workshops that are in step with current global trends, aimed at enhancing capabilities and strategies on crisis management and emergency preparedness in terms of forecasting major recurring and potential emergencies, devising of appropriate preparedness and contingency plans as well as updating of regional disaster and emergency management system..

MERN however, is not looked upon as a closing of ranks of unity only in times of tragedy. Guerra says MERN symbolizes a Mindanao where diverse people live in harmony strengthened by its active and constructive will to ensure sustainable development efforts geared towards peace". It can be done through maximizing participation of all stakeholders, clearly hinting that it was one of MERNs strategies.

Accelerating Assistance in the Face of Ever-Growing Danger

One of the pressing concerns of MERN member organizations is to ensure IDPs access to food, water and non-food commodities. But this is easier said than done. Fairudz (Rose) Ebus, Project Coordinator of Mindanao Tulong Bakwet, said At times, our personal safety and security were at stake even though it was made clear that our efforts are purely humanitarian".

In Basilan, for instance, we were threatened that we can never leave the place alive if we do not give our load of food and non-food items to the alleged local MNLF militia leader who blamed us of giving only to Christians", she narrated. I told them I am a Muslim and our program calls that we give to Muslims and Christians alike. That in this war, there are no Muslims nor Christians but only people in need", she recounted. The statement made the local militia leader release her and her staff.

Besides threats to life, rural development workers of NGOs under MERN have to reckon with sudden and unfortunate events that surface beyond their control. The tragic and untimely death of Theresa B. Marquez, the finance officer of SC/DPR Mindanao, who drowned in Bulioc River, Maguindanao while providing humanitarian service underscores this reality. Two other SC staff narrowly escaped deaths ugly head in that freak incident.

It is not also easy to penetrate many areas where evacuees are without danger of losing life and limb. In Datu Piang, Maguindanao, for instance, Raymundo Tabudlong, Core Facilitator of Kids for Peace, a MERN member said much as we would like to go and bring humanitarian goods, it is difficult for NGOs to penetrate because anyone can be caught in a crossfire and that there is always the possibility of being mistaken by any of the opposing forces

As such, SC advocates for a Safety First" approach for its workers and NGO partners. (SC Safety First Handbook) SC aims to help NGOs working in areas of armed conflict to protect their staff more effectively, by following the:

1) Basic principles, such as the concept of 'risk management' and the importance of non-partisanship.

2) Safety conscious' management practices.

3) Practical security measures relating to:
-   staying healthy
- radio and satellite communication
- using vehicles and aircraft
- dealing with munitions and the military
- the threat of landmines
- self-defense against armed attack
For MERN, it has considered strategies that Integrate workers' security and welfare in humanitarian work to ensure their security and safety. Each personnel of member of a MERN NGO engaged in humanitarian is required to pass the standardized training on personal security, health and safety.

NGO workers hardships sometimes also go to naught. Tabudlong said there were instances when supplies went to the wrong hands. In some cases, food supplies have not gone to the evacuees for their needs but to people who were not the intended beneficiaries. Some non-food commodities intended for war victims have been seen being sold in local markets", he said.

MERN and Children in Areas of Conflict
In times of war, children witness and experience terrible atrocities. Their worlds are shattered by physical, sexual and emotional violence. Their homes are destroyed. Their communities are splintered. Their trust in adults breaks down. Thus, they warrant special attention and consideration. A number of MERN member local NGOs are concerned with the rehabilitation of children from war stress and trauma and they are finding it challenging and difficult.

Each child is affected differently by armed conflict, said Salic Ibrahim, Executive Director of MARADECA, a MERN member." A child's response depends on his or her age, gender, personality type, personal and family history, cultural background and experience, as well as the type and length of the conflict. The stress of conflict can cause increased fear of separation from others, delayed development, sleep disturbances, nightmares, decreased appetite, withdrawn behavior, and a lack of interest in play. Younger children can have learning difficulties, and older children and teenagers can show anxious or aggressive behavior and depression,; he explained.

Thus, psychosocial support is an essential part of a child's recovery from the trauma of war. It is also important to their growth and continued development. Psychosocial support helps children recover by creating a sense of purpose, self-esteem, identity and security.
MARADECA and Kids for Peaces programs help children feel normal again through daily routines such as going to school, preparing food, washing clothes and working. Activities like play, sports, drawing and storytelling help stimulate their minds and emotions. It is also important for children to participate in planning community based relief, recovery and reconstruction programs. This makes the programs more relevant to children and helps rebuild their trust in adults, Ibrahim elaborated. He suggested that SC and MERN. Should introduce recovery programs that understand and incorporate local cultures and traditions.

Father Berrt Layson, OMI of Pikit Project Immaculate Concepcion who is a known war critic and worker for war evacuees, added that the media should also show a human heart. Careless interventions and interviews by humanitarian workers, journalists and other people can lead children to relive the worst moments of their lives. This will leave children feeling upset and vulnerable, he said.

Kids are not afraid of guns. They are afraid of their lives. It is unfortunate that some media have been glamorizing the war instead of depicting the horrors and the reasons why it should stop once and for all", he said, referring to newspaper pictures and stories of soldiers gleefully celebrating but behind them lay shattered houses, horrified children with broken dreams.

Many children here are so traumatized they hide, live in fear, and horror-stricken. In their case, it is important that psychosocial support be a central part of child protection in all phases of emergency and reconstruction of MERN, he said.

He also said Governments, donors and relief organizations like SC should make reuniting children and their families a priority.
He lamented that as the military and the MILF continue counting their casualties, the generals and politicians are silent on the number of civilian casualties and the manner how these people died and presently suffer. Of how many children lost their mothers, how many women were widowed, children traumatized, homes lost, families separated.
The thought is so horrifying many dont want to think about it", he concluded./MICHAEL A. BENGWAYAN

By MICHAEL A. BENGWAYAN ,Ph.D. (mbengwayan@hotmail.com)
Gemini News Service Correspondent and Asia Observer Writer

(Note:The author is a fellow of the New York City-based Echoing Green Foundation (www.echoinggreen.org)