New P296M aid brings total US donations for Marawi rehab to P1.7B

The United States will provide an additional P296.2 million ($5.55 million for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, site of the five-month clash between the government troops and Islamic State-linked terrorists last year.

This brings total US assistance to more than P1.7 billion ($31.95 million). It will be delivered through US Agency for International Development.

“The additional assistance will promote the role and inclusion of women in the recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi as well as support ongoing humanitarian assistance work in and around the city,” the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement over the weekend.

Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski stressed the important role that women play in building peace and security.

“Women have been disproportionately impacted by the conflict in Marawi, including by psycological trauma, reduced mobility and diminished participation in civic activities,” he said.

“P136.1 million of this new assistance will respond to the needs of displaced persons, particularly women and girls, promote the leadership of women and girls in fostering peace-building and alternatives to violent extremism, as well as integrate gender into recovery and rehabilitation work,” he added.

The rest of the assistance will be used for the livelihood assistance for more than 7,800 displaced families and water and sanitation for more than 10,000 displaced households inside and around Marawi City. /vvp