But the trauma continues

‘The kids cry whenever they hear the sound of airplanes’

DAVAO CITY – Mental health issues continue to hound residents who survived the months-long skirmishes between government troops and terrorists in Marawi City.

This, as stakeholders reviewed the imposition of Martial Law a year later, since the siege started in May last year.

Trauma, for example, has affected children as young as toddlers who now fear airplanes.

Fr. Chito Soganub, who has worked alongside survivors of the Marawi siege, said they have received reports that there children who now cry whenever they hear airplanes.

"They saw it happen," Soganub said, referring to the bombardment of targets in Marawi City during the skirmishes between government troops and Maute Group members.

At first, the kids made fun of airplanes as if these were defecating.

Until the bombs exploded next to their homes.

Soganub said that, in one area, a huge crater lies as a grim reminder of that bombing run.

"Dumb bombs," or unguided ordnance were dropped in hundreds of spots in Marawi City by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) which provided air cover for ground troops in the fierce fighting starting May 2017.

Various aircraft coming from various PAF units were deployed in Marawi City, with the most notable aircraft being the FA50 Bulldogs fitted with bombs, as well as OV10 Broncos.

As early as the first months of the siege, residents were already traumatized by the fighting, as some of them had to walk in between the crossfire between both sides. "You can imagine the trauma on the children," Soganub said.

Dr. Gail Ilagan, who represents the Philippine Association of Psychologists, said that mental health workers were ready to provide psychosocial care for those who were affected by the Marawi Siege.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said, to date, the explosives and ordnance teams are still scouring for bombs that could still be on the ground even months after the government declared the site clear of terrorists.