PHILIPPINES: Displaced families starving due to abject poverty in General Santos City, Mindanao

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the starvation and hunger three displaced families are experiencing in Barangay Bawing, General Santos City, Mindanao. One family, in particular, lives in such desperate conditions that they struggle to eat even once daily.

Most of the displaced victims, who are from indigenous communities, must scavenge garbage dumps as a means to provide for their livelihoods. In recent years, over 40 families in the village have been displaced and are now forced to scavenge dumpsites. They used to cultivate farms in nearby T’boli, South Cotabato but had to migrate due to frequent fighting between soldiers and rebels in the area.

The AHRC asks for your immediate intervention into the matter. We hope that the city government of General Santos will provide appropriate assistance to the victims and that the necessary steps are taken to eradicate hunger and poverty in the area.

Urgent Appeals Desk – Hunger Alert
Asian Human Rights Commission 
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Victims: 
1. Genevive Diamil (29) and her husband Basil Diamil (27), and their siblings Jun Rey (7), Diamil (5) and Brix (2)
2. Cosme Asi and his wife Ampoy, and their two siblings Melissa and Taldil
3. Ta Palati (19) and her husband Romeo, their two siblings Edel (3) and Rosanna (2) and some 40 other families
Location: 
Purok Darusalam, Barangay Bawing, General Santos City, Mindanao, Philippines

Three displaced families now residing in a village in General Santos City, Mindanao, are suffering from malnutrition and poverty. The families, who are ethnic minorities originally from farmlands in South Cotabato, now engage in collecting and selling reusable garbage at a dumpsite for a living. They live in desperate conditions, and are also lacking in potable water and sufficient medical assistance.

The Diamil family is one such family, who has to walk several kilometers from their hut to the garbage dump everyday. In total, the family earns about p50 (USD 1) per day, which is used to buy food and their immediate daily needs. The family eats only once daily; a meal that consists of mainly porridge with fermented anchovies and some vegetables. The family also weaves coconut leaves (nipa) to supplement their daily income, however still struggles to buy rice each day.

Genevive Diamil, aged 29, is nine months pregnant and has received no pre-natal care. Moreover, her three children, who suffer from malnutrition, are not enrolled in any food or vitamin supplement programmes under the local health authorities or social welfare office. They are also in need of deworming medication, but cannot even afford the medication.

The Palati family also faces a similar hunger situation. Not only does the family have to resort to scavenging for their income as well, but like Genevive Diamil, Ta Palati is nine months pregnant and is receiving no medical assistance. Ta also states that as most people in the village have farming backgrounds and are illiterate, collecting reusable garbage is the only type of work they can find to provide for their immediate needs.

The Asi family is another family suffering from hunger and poverty in the village. Cosme and Ampoy Asi, both in their 60’s, also rummage for reusable rubbish and weave coconut leaves (nipa) for their earnings. The couple earns about p25 (USD 0.50) per day, depending on how much nipa they can sell, which only allows them to buy 1 kg of rice. The Asis also comment that of the seven siblings they have, all have now moved from their original homes in T’boli South Cotabato and struggle for their livelihoods.

There are at least 40 displaced families from indigenous communities currently living in Purok Darusalam who suffer from hunger, malnutrition and abject poverty. The families, belonging to the B’laan tribe, migrated to the village some years ago as a result of intense fighting and drought in their hometown of T’boli, South Cotabato. Once working in farmlands, the families now scavenge dumpsites or weave coconut leaves as their main source of income and struggle to support themselves with their meager earnings. Most of the children in the village show signs of malnutrition, and are seriously lacking in vitamins and food.

The village in which these ethnic minorities live is in poor condition. Each family must pay p50 (USD 1) every month to a private landowner in order to live in their huts, which are made of cheap and flimsy materials. Only one well and water pump exists in the area, and as the water is muddy, yellow and not suitable to drink, the victims must walk several kilometers to find potable water. Moreover, the village only has one public toilet, and there is no proper waste disposal system. This poses several health risks to the villagers, in particular to the children.

Currently, while starving and struggling to support themselves, the victims in Purok Darusalam are receiving no food assistance, medical care, or welfare. It appears that the local administration’s reluctance and refusal to intervene in this matter is because the victims are migrants from South Cotabato, and not original residents of the village, even though they have lived in the area for about six years.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send a letter to city mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. of General Santos City asking the city government to end the starvation and hunger of the affected families without delay. Immediate sustainable food assistance, prenatal and medical care, and proper hygiene and waste disposal must be afforded to the victims.?Alternative means of livelihood should also be offered to the villagers. Please also request Mayor Acharon to order the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to initiate an assessment and evaluation into the condition of the affected families and take the appropriate steps on it without delay. A sample letter follows.

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