Philippines: Renewed hope for displaced families in Basilan
In 2019, around 270 residents from a remote village in Basilan province were forced to flee their homes due to armed clashes between government forces and a non-state armed group. They were fearful but the residents thought that their displacement was temporary.
“When we left, we took shelter in makeshift houses, but the displacement continued for much longer. That’s when we asked our relatives to take us in,” recalled Asniah*, the 54-year-old mother of eight.
Since their displacement, Asniah has stayed with relatives and, like the rest of her displaced community, continues to struggle to rebuild their lives. Returning home remains a distant dream, compounded by safety concerns and a lack of basic resources.
Asniah, one of the conflict-affected residents received the household items provided by the ICRC.
We are a large family, and without a steady income like we used to earn, it’s a challenge to pay for our necessities.
“We rely heavily on our farms and rubber tapping for our livelihood. Without access to them, we continue to struggle,” she said.
To make ends meet, Asniah and her husband started a small backyard garden, growing produce that they consumed and occasionally sold. However, the money that they made from their business was barely enough to cover their daily needs.
While Asniah is thankful for her relatives’ hospitality, she knows their resources are stretched due to the prolonged displacement.
“We are a large family, and without a steady income like we used to earn, it’s a challenge to pay for our necessities,” she said.
“There are times when we can only afford one meal a day. Of course, I feel the weight of our shared struggle.”
The essential household items that were distributed in Basilan. These contained food rations, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, jerry cans, and water pails.
To help address the needs of these displaced families, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a humanitarian organization that strives to protect and assist victims of armed conflict, conducted an evaluation of Asniah’s village to determine the community’s immediate needs. As a result, in December 2024, the organization provided kitchen sets, hygiene kits, essential household items, and containers, to support their daily living. Almost 270 residents received the items.
“Our assessment showed that their household items needed replacement. Since their priority is securing food, they have been using old, often damaged items,” said Esnihaya Abdulsalam, ICRC economic security field officer.
In addition to these items, the ICRC provided a multi-purpose unconditional cash grant of PHP 20,000 (approximately 350 USD), distributed in two tranches, to help families cover their immediate needs and engage in livelihood activities. Providing the cash grant is the ICRC’s way of helping the conflict-affected community recover and build their resilience. The grant was used by the affected people to pay for their immediate needs and/or restart their livelihoods.
Asniah used the money to pay off some of her debts and bought seeds and other items so she could cultivate their backyard garden.
“I am happy that I could pay my relative and, in some way, help put food on the table,” she said. She also set up a small sari-sari store to complement what they earn from gardening.
Asniah is nourished by the dream of returning home would one day come true, so they could resume their life on their own farm. For now, she makes the most of the support she has received and welcomes the future with renewed hope.
*not her real name
This article was written by Amer Hassan Sanggacala, ICRC Communication Officer based in Zamboanga City.
