EU Ambassadors Visit IDPs in Maguindanao Province

July 29, 2009

Cotabato City- Ambassadors from the European countries have lauded the decision of the Government of the Republic of the Philippine (GRP) and the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to declare the Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) and the Suspension of Military Action respectively.

On July 23, 2009 Malacanang announced that it has suspended its military operations against some members of the MILF and two days after MILF reciprocated by also declaring suspension of military action against government forces.

In a two-day visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the different evacuation centers in the province of Maguindanao on July 28-29, Head of Delegation of the European Commission Ambassador Alistair McDonald expressed optimism that the recent declaration of SOMO and SOMA by the two parties will pave way for peace.

Ambassador McDonald along with French Ambassador Thierry Borja de Mozota, Ambassador Robert Brinks of The Netherlands and World Food Program Country Director Mr. Steven Anderson visited the IDPs at the evacuation centers in the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Piang, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Talayan in the province of Maguindanao to personally talk to the local officials and the IDPs themselves regarding their plight in the evacuation centers.

“We have to spend a little time to see the IDPs and talk to the people on the ground and we have seen their miseries in the evacuation centers, that’s why I am convinced that they have been wanting to return back home, Ambassador Thierry Borja de Mozota.

DSWD-ARMM Regional Secretary Bai Soraida Biruar said that the declaration of SOMO and SOMA is a welcome move for the part of the social workers to make a comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation plan to return back the IDPs to their places.

According to the official report from the DSWD, there are 61,501 IDPs in the ARMM area 37,400 of them are in the evacuation centers and 24,052 are outside the evacuation centers.

In her briefing during the visit of the EU ambassadors, dswd-12 regional director Sarahaida Taha said that a total of P993.7 million has been spent for humanitarian assistance for both early recovery and rehabilitation program from government agencies and foreign donors. (bpi-armm)