Press Release
The
affected families in Tipo-Tipo, Al-Barka and Ungkaya Pukan municipalities have
sought refuge with their relatives after shelling and air strikes occurred on
an almost daily basis over the past three weeks. Casualties and injured
fighters were reported on both sides, while a few civilians were also wounded
as a consequence of the clashes.
“The
security situation in Basilan is precarious. We are concerned for the civilians
as we expect clashes to continue in the coming weeks,” said Yann Fridez, head
of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sub-delegation in
Mindanao.
“We
urge all parties to the fighting to exercise utmost precaution to minimize the
impact or damage to civilian communities. We also ask them to spare civilian
structures such as hospitals, schools and houses, and facilities that are
essential for their daily lives,” he stressed.
To
complement the assistance provided by the authorities, the ICRC, with the
Philippine Red Cross (PRC), distributed essential household items to more than
17,000 displaced people in the three municipalities. The items distributed by
the PRC Basilan chapter on July 27-28 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 rural health units in these
three municipalities to treat sick and wounded people. Already in April, the
ICRC and the Department of Health-Health Emergency Management Bureau had
conducted Basic Life Support training for 168 health staff in Basilan and Sulu
provinces.
The
ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose
mandate is to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other
situations of violence. It has had a presence in the Philippines for more than
70 years and a permanent presence in Mindanao since 1982.
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