Over 500 families or 2,000 people have been displaced by the military’s sustained operations against Abu Sayyaf in Basilan since Saturday.
“We have received reports from the provincial social welfare and development that 515 families were displaced from the two villages of Silangkum and Baguindan in the town of Tipo-Tipo,” said Myrna Jo Henry, information officer of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (ARMM-HEART) on Tuesday.
Henry said the provincial government had extended relief assistance to the evacuees, while help from the regional government was to be expected on Wednesday.
Saturday’s fighting in Basilan killed 18 soldiers and wounded at least 50 others.
READ: 18 soldiers dead in 10-hr clash with Abu Sayyaf Group
Deaths on the side of the Abu Sayyaf rose to 24 with the ongoing operations, military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said on Tuesday.
The military also announced on Tuesday that Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama was among those killed but retracted it a few hours later. RC
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