ARMM HEART extends help to flood victims, IDPs in Basilan, Sulu
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 15:35 PM Mon Mar 13, 2017
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
ARMM-HEART relief workers load goods for Basilan, Sulu internally displaced persons. (ARMM image)
ZAMBOANGA CITY –
Relief workers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are on its way to Basilan today forrelief operations to families displaced by recent floods in Lamitan City
and armed hostilities in Basilan and Sulu.
Myrna Jo
Henry, speaking for ARMM’s Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART),
said the relief providers are now on its way to Lamitan City to assist some 2,000 families
affected by floods due to flash floods.
At least five
villages of Basilan were deserted late last week as water rose to waist level,
Henry said.Henry said the so called scalawags cops from the National Capital Regional Office (NCRPO) led the rescue operations of families trapped by rising flood water.
At least 60 cops facing various charges were sent to Basilan as part of rehabilitation and re-training after they were linked to various illegal activities while in Metro Manila.As of Sunday
afternoon, the affected families have returned home as water level has
subsided.
The ARMM relief team is headed by DSWD-ARMM Assistant Sec. Pombaen Karon Kadir.Later,
ARMM-HEART personnel will proceed to Al Barka town in Basilan to assist
families displaced by armed hostilities between military and Abu Sayyaf group
last week.
About 2,500
families were displaced by the conflict.
Henry said the
team will then proceed Wednesday to Sulu to extend relief aid to families who
fled as the Army intensified its manhunt against the extremist Abu Sayyaf. About 1,500 families from four Sulu towns were displaced.Relief goods will also be distributed to residents of Jolo town affected by floods.The relief
goods include rice, noodles, canned goods, water containers, among others.