CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY”•The fighting between government security forces and armed groups since the first week of July has displaced 3,400 families in Basilan Province, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday.
The affected families in Tipo-Tipo, Al-Barka and Ungkaya Pukan municipalities have sought refuge with their relatives after shelling and air strikes took place almost daily over the past three weeks, the Red Cross said.
The group made the statement even as President Rodrigo Duterte said he was willing to talk with rebel groups to attain peace but he would never negotiate with criminal and bandit groups.
“As I talk to the communists, I will also talk to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front,” Duterte said during his visit to the Southern Luzon Command’s headquarters in Lucena.
“Not the Abu Sayyaf. I will not talk to criminals.”
Casualties and injuries have been reported on both sides”•including civilians”•in the fighting in Basilan.
“The security situation in Basilan is precarious. We are concerned for the civilians as we expect the clashes to continue in the coming weeks,” said Yann Fridez, head of the ICRC’s sub-delegation in Mindanao.
“We urge all parties in the fighting to exercise utmost precaution to minimize the impact or damage to civilian communities,” Fridez said.
“We also ask them to spare civilian structures such as hospitals, schools and houses, and facilities that are essential for their daily lives.”
The ICRC and the Philippine Red Cross have distributed essential household items to more than 17,000 displaced people in the three municipalities.
The items distributed by the PRC in Basilan on July 27 and 28 included hygiene kits, blankets, towels, jerry cans, mosquito nets and sleeping mats.
The ICRC also distributed dressing kits and medical supplies, including drugs and anti-tetanus vaccines, to enhance the capacity of the rural health units in these three municipalities to treat the sick and the wounded.
The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose mandate is to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other violent situations. Lance Baconguis, with PNA