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Representatives from ten villages in the less affected area of Marawi City are happy after receiving livelihood packages from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The benefactors believe that apart from the city's most affected area, such recipients also need help to recover. (Claire R. Gigje/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur) |
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Philippines underscored that apart from the most affected area (MAA) of Marawi, the historic warfare in 2017 has also left residents in the less affected area (LAA) of the city clamoring for support to start anew.
This, as the organization in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) implemented its project named "Driving Marawi’s Rehabilitation through IDP Support, Community Development and Peaceful Transitional Action," distributing community livelihood packages to 72 barangays in LAA.
Luzwellah Diaca, the national project officer of the IOM Philippines, stated that since the siege and the conceptualization of the said effort, they have already witnessed numerous interventions centered on 24 barangays in MAA.
Noting this, she said they wanted to highlight a lot of displaced residents coming from the LAA who also need help but were receiving less support.
“Ang iba ay nakikitira pa rin sa kanilang mga relative at nahihirapan pa rin na bumalik sa kanilang original na katayuan na wala pang Marawi siege. Dahil doon, naisip ng project na ito through IOM in partnership with KOICA na maganda ring bigyan ng support ang IDPs na nandito sa 72 less affected areas,” said Daica.
Notwithstanding their effort aiming for the wellness of residents in LAA, the national project officer stressed that this did not signify that they were not exerting service to the MAA populace as well.
“Hindi ibig sabihin na hindi natin naaabot ang internally displaced persons (IDPs) sa 24 MAA kasi may mga nakatira sa less affected areas pero originally galing din sa 24 MAA katulad ng mga nakatira sa transitory shelters. So, sila ay nagiging member pa rin ng CWGs at tinatawag natin silang IDP representatives,” said Daica.
[This does not mean that we are not reaching out to internally displaced persons in 24 MAA because some are living in the less affected areas but originally from the 24 MAA like those living in transitory shelters. So, they also became members of the CWGs and we are calling them IDP representatives.]
Before the handover of livelihood packages, the IOM had accordingly extended support to affected residents in LAA in their return to their respective homes by giving out food, securing their transportation, and coordinating with appropriate partners.
In terms of livelihood, the organization has already aided 36 LAA villages and it looked forward to accommodating the whole area before this year ends. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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