editorials
Zamboanga faces massive humanitarian crisis
A young evacuee, one of the thousands affected by the stand-off between Philippine government forces and Muslim rebels, shelters from the scorching heat as others queue up for food distribution at an evacuation centre inside a sports complex in Zamboanga, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The fighting may be over but a humanitarian crisis remains in Zamboanga City as more than a hundred thousand displaced residents would need long-term support in rebuilding their homes and lives, according to a United Nations relief agency.
In its latest report on the situation in Zamboanga released Friday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cited the lingering humanitarian disaster in the wake of three weeks of fighting between government troops and guerrillas of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front led by Nur Misuari.
“The Government recently announced that its stand-off with the MNLF faction has ended. However, the humanitarian crisis continues,” the UN agency said in its report.
“The task of reconstructing homes and rebuilding the communities affected physically and psychologically by the conflict is a massive one. The government now hopes that people who lost their homes in the fighting will be housed in bunk houses until they can rebuild,” it added.
More than 200 people were killed and at least 10,000 homes were destroyed by fires and heavy bombardment during the 20-day standoff between the government and Misuari’s followers.
A warrant has been issued for Misuari’s arrest on charges of rebellion and crimes against humanity for allegedly fomenting the conflict. The former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao declared independence for a “Bangsamoro Republik” amid continuing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as faction that broke away from the MNLF years ago.
The Zamboanga conflict
A young evacuee, one of the thousands affected by the stand-off between Philippine government forces and Muslim rebels, shelters from the scorching heat as others queue up for food distribution at an evacuation centre inside a sports complex in Zamboanga, on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The fighting may be over but a humanitarian crisis remains in Zamboanga City as more than a hundred thousand displaced residents would need long-term support in rebuilding their homes and lives, according to a United Nations relief agency.
In its latest report on the situation in Zamboanga released Friday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cited the lingering humanitarian disaster in the wake of three weeks of fighting between government troops and guerrillas of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front led by Nur Misuari.
“The Government recently announced that its stand-off with the MNLF faction has ended. However, the humanitarian crisis continues,” the UN agency said in its report.
“The task of reconstructing homes and rebuilding the communities affected physically and psychologically by the conflict is a massive one. The government now hopes that people who lost their homes in the fighting will be housed in bunk houses until they can rebuild,” it added.
More than 200 people were killed and at least 10,000 homes were destroyed by fires and heavy bombardment during the 20-day standoff between the government and Misuari’s followers.
A warrant has been issued for Misuari’s arrest on charges of rebellion and crimes against humanity for allegedly fomenting the conflict. The former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao declared independence for a “Bangsamoro Republik” amid continuing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as faction that broke away from the MNLF years ago.
The Zamboanga conflict