Marawi residents receive help from MILF
COTABATO City – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is committed in continuing its humanitarian efforts to provide assistance for residents displaced by the fighting in Marawi.
MILF implementing peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal disclosed that the support of the MILF is focused on humanitarian intervention through the established peace corridor and relief operations.
“When the fighting in Marawi City erupted, many groups in Mindanao including the MILF were really worried about its impacts. The initial decision of the MILF was to coordinate with the government of the Philippines to consult on what we can contribute,” Iqbal said.
The MILF leadership immediately convened a meeting to discuss the possible assistance for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), trapped civilians and hostages of the Maute group. In the meeting, the MILF agreed to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte and military generals in Davao City last May 29, Iqbal said.
“We agreed that the most logical response from the MILF was through humanitarian intervention and this led to the creation of the peace corridor. The principal objective of the peace corridor is to help rescue civilians trapped in Marawi City,” Iqbal said.
This cooperation between the MILF and the government helped create safe passages from Marawi to Iligan City and Malabang, Lanao del Sur. The corridor was also utilized to safely deliver relief services for the displaced residents.
The MILF effectively pooled volunteers and tapped the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostiles (MILFCCCH) to create the peace corridor.
Iqbal said that the United Bangsamoro Humanitarian Assistance (UBHA), chaired by the Bangsamoro Development Agency, was also created and is continuously collecting and delivering at least P2-million worth of food and non-food items to Marawi City, Iligan City and other parts of Lanao. The peace corridor is still active and MILF volunteers are presently providing aid in the area, Iqbal added.
He disclosed that the MILF is now eyeing to extend and expand its assistance including the rehabilitation of Marawi.
“We are looking at a role that the MILF can play, a modest role. The MILF is a modest organization so we can only share something based on our capability,” Iqbal said.