Red Cross airs plea for more help for ‘lumad’

MEMBERS of a Manobo community with congenital albinism are among the thousands of “lumad” who fled their homes in Surigao del Sur province and sought shelter in Tandag City. KING RODRIGUEZ/CONTRIBUTOR

DAVAO CITY—The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has issued an appeal for a concerted effort in support of “lumad” families displaced by violence in Lianga, Surigao del Sur province.

PRC chair Richard Gordon said public support is needed as the number of evacuees continues to grow in Tandag City.

Last month, hundreds of lumad fled their villages in the towns of Lianga, Marihatag, San Agustin, San Miguel and Tago after an attack on their communities by a government-backed militia.

Gordon said while PRC continues to provide aid like food, water, sanitation and household and medical supplies to the evacuees, now numbering more than 4,000 people, local government resources are being depleted.

Gordon said PRC is coordinating with the local government of Surigao del Sur in providing support to lumad families sheltered at the Oval Sports Complex in Tandag City.

He said so far, PRC has set up two 5,000-liter water bladders and other water facilities in the area.

Emergency latrines have been built by PRC volunteers and employees of the provincial engineer’s office, he said.

PRC, he said, sent water tankers from its Davao City and Zamboanga City offices to distribute potable water to the evacuees.

Aside from providing water and food, PRC is also helping maintain hygiene among evacuees, said Gordon.

Food, hygiene kits, jerry cans, kitchen utensils, blankets, mosquito nets, sanitary napkins and basins were among the items distributed to the evacuees, he said.

PRC also set up welfare desks that were able to help more than 1,000 evacuees, including 417 children, said the PRC chair.

In Davao City, Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan said Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman’s proposal to relocate the lumad evacuees in Surigao del Sur was misplaced and could lead to the permanent displacement of lumad communities.

In a visit to Tandag City, Soliman said the government would look for relocation sites for the lumad on which core shelters would be built.

“In offering lumad evacuees relocation, Secretary Soliman simply refuses to understand and see the reasons behind the lumad’s displacement,” Ilagan said.

She said the answer to lumad woes is the pullout of soldiers from lumad communities and the disbandment of the Magahat-Bagani militia.

Ilagan said if these were heeded, “the lumad can peacefully return home.”

“They have been forced to evacuate several times and they have been victimized several times. We must heed their calls,” she said. Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao