Philippines: relief in the south
30-10-1996 News Release 96/43
On 24 October, 682 displaced families on the island of Mindanao (southern Philippines) received food and other aid as part of a joint ICRC-Philippine National Red Cross operation. The families, forced from their homes by an upsurge of fighting between government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces in Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces, have found temporary refuge near Cotabato City. An estimated 863 more displaced families in four other areas are soon to be given similar assistance.
The fighting in central Mindanao appears to have taken a turn for the worse in recent days, reportedly claiming numerous civilian and military casualties. The ICRC has been asked to provide medicines to help meet the needs in this area.