PHILIPPINES: Starvation and hunger threaten hundreds of displaced villagers following intense fighting in Maguindanao, Mindanao

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Mindanao People’s Caucus (MPC), a coalition of human rights groups in Mindanao, regarding the threat of starvation and hunger to hundreds of villagers displaced by renewed fighting between soldiers and bandits in Guindulungan, Maguindanao province, Mindanao.

The villagers were not able to harvest their crops, which is their primary source of food and livelihood, when the fighting broke out in July. In a desperate move to continue farming in order to have food to eat, it was reported that some of the villagers took the risk not to vacate their homes and farmlands. The meager relief assistance and poor condition of the evacuation centers discouraged the victims to evacuate.

We request your immediate intervention to pressure the Philippine government to take immediate steps to prevent the possible starvation and hunger of the affected villagers. Furthermore, should there be efforts to evacuate the victims from their villages and farms to safety, adequate food and relief assistance must be afforded to them.

Urgent Appeals Desk — Hunger Alert
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Victims: Jose Acmad, chairman of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) and hundreds of affected villagers
Location: Barangay Ahan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao province
Date: current, beginning in early July 2005

Hundreds of villagers in Barangay Ahan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao are facing threats of starvation and hunger after they were unable to harvest their crops when fighting between soldiers and bandits broke out in early July this year. Out of desperation, the villagers also refused to leave their homes and farms despite the sporadic air strikes and mortar shelling, for they feared that should they leave, they would have no available means to provide for their livelihoods.

The villagers in Barangay Ahan depend on their farm crops for their food and livelihoods. When the military operations started in early July, the villagers were supposed to harvest about 196 hectares of corn, rice and sesame seed crops, however were unable to do so because of the fighting and violence in the area. Failure to harvest their crops means the villagers could potentially face at least three months of hunger. Thus, while the villagers attempt to harvest amidst the violence, many are left with little food for their consumption.

The villagers do have the option to move to designated evacuation centers as the fighting and random air strikes continue, however many have refused to move because of the meager relief assistance victims are receiving from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the poor conditions that await evacuees at the centers. This situation has greatly discouraged the victims to flee as they will continue to struggle for food at these evacuation centers.

Victim Jose Acmad, a peace advocate and Chairman of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), has joined hundreds of villagers who refused to leave their homes and farmlands on August 18, 2005. It is unfortunate that these victims must take such high risks as a result of the poor conditions at the evacuation centers, but the potential for sufficient food is much better in the village. Acmad said, “At the evacuation centers, we watch our children get sick from hunger while there are so many crops waiting to be harvested in our own communities”.

Furthermore, the evacuation was brought on very suddenly and the villagers were not given enough time to prepare for the move. Of the villagers who were evacuated, those who wished to return to their farms and harvest crops for food were refused security and protection.

Reports from Bantay Ceasefire, a group of human rights organizations monitoring the situation, disclosed that the toll on the civilians who remain in the village is mounting – children are getting sick, crops are damaged and there is massive displacement. It was also reported that the civilians’ movement has been restricted in the area.

Background of displacement in Mindanao:

This is yet another instance of displaced villagers suffering a desperate situation when fighting is renewed in the Mindanao islands. In February 2003, hundreds of villagers in Pikit and its neighboring areas in North Cotabato province were also displaced and caught in cross fire. Some died in the evacuation centers due to sickness, congestion and lack of food.

In February 2005, hundreds of displaced persons in Jolo, Sulu experienced a similar situation (please see FA-11-2005 for further details). Even though the Philippine government has been acting on the evacuees’ plight in event of massive displacement, the repeated experiences of the evacuees suggests that concerned government agencies are not well prepared.

Most of the displaced villagers in Mindanao have been trying to survive and live their normal life despite the repeated and frequent displacement due to intense fighting in the area. However, previous actions taken by the government was not enough to ensure the evacuees’ food situation and medical assistance in such an event. The government has yet to take an effective step to respond to the evacuees’ needs.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send a letter to Ms. Zorahayda T. Taha, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD XII) in Koronadal City, Mindanao, Philippines, asking her office to take appropriate action to afford sustainable food and relief assistance to the affected villagers, in the villages and the evacuation centers. Also ask her to initiate a dialogue with the victims, together with other relevant government agencies, to discuss their concerns and take steps to evacuate them to safety without delay. A sample letter follows.

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