World Vision Philippines has sent an assessment and initial response team to Midsayap, North Cotabato following reports of massive displacement of residents amid renewed clashes between government forces and the Islamic separatist movement, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Over 7,000 residents from three villages, many of whom are children or elderly, fled their houses in search of safer ground after a spate of skirmishes between the government forces and MILF rebels since February this year.    

Some of them have taken temporary refuge in the village of Pupuyan, in the safer municipality of Aleosan.

The World Vision team, led by Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director Jose Bersales, began their response with a welcome distribution of food and other supplies to around 270 families in Pupuyan.

“We aim to complete our assessment so that we can come up with a decision whether to conduct a long term relief operation,” said Bersales. 

World Vision also distributed toys to children to help them overcome the trauma of the hostilities.

The World Vision assessment team has been coordinating with other government agencies and non-government organisation in its effort to gather complete and objective information on the situation in Cotabato. 

Mindanao has been a conflict area for over a decade with tensions often flaring into violence. The latest clashes are said to be caused by the alleged killing of a local official's aide in the town of Midsayap. The aide was reportedly abducted, then beaten and shot dead by the rebels as they retreated. Since then at least six people have died in an exchange of bloody attacks between the MILF and government forces.

Since the government agreed to remove forces from Midsayap on February 11, peace negotiations between the government and the MILF have stepped up and a cease-fire has been declared by the joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities of the two panels.

However, according to Bersales, fear prevails in the village of Pupuyan, especially among evacuees.

“The people here are afraid of the military’s presence. For them, their (military) presence beckons violent encounters with the rebels,” said Bersales.

World Vision Philippines has been an active advocate for peace initiatives in Mindanao since 2000 with special focus in promoting conflict sensitive programming for non-governmental agencies and local government units.

In December 2006, World Vision Philippines funded the fourth Mindanao People’s Peace Summit held in the Lamitan, Province of Basilan.  The summit, which was attended by around 200 members and support organisations, provided a venue for peace advocates to discuss various issues in Mindanao.

For media interviews on the situation in Mindanao and World Vision's response, contact:

Dominique M. Tabora, World Vision Philippines Communications Manager
Mob: 09178735458
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Boy Bersales, World Vision Philippines Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director
Mob: 09178735458
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

More about conflict and children