Fighting in Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay displaced 19,000

MANILA, Philippines—About 19,000 persons have been displaced due to armed conflicts in Al Barka, Basilan and Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported.

A total of 7,888 persons in Basilan and 11,593 persons in Zamboanga have sought “temporary refuge to relatives for safety,” it said.

In Basilan, one civilian named Abdulkahal Abdalsal, 53, was killed, while two other civilians, namely: Nurfa Sappalam, 10, and Omar Sappalam 35, were wounded, it said.

The conflict also partially damaged two houses while destroying three other houses and one school building, the NDRRMC said.

Meanwhile, in Zamboanga Sibugay, four were killed and eight were injured, while one is still missing. The identities of the casualties have yet to be identified, it added.

Law enforcement operations are still ongoing in Cambug, Al Barka, Basilan, it also said.