KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/21 September)–The amount of humanitarian assistance extended to the victims of the Zamboanga standoff reached P71.
2 million so far, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in a situational report released 6 a.m. Saturday.
That means at least P5.4 million worth of daily assistance if divided since the start of the crisis on September 9, after Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters loyal to founding chair Nur Misuari laid siege on some of the city’s coastal barangays.
The Zamboanga crisis entered Day 13 on Saturday.
The cost of humanitarian assistance is expected to rise since as of September 19, 20,643 families or 111,162 individuals remain in 57 evacuation centers across “Asia’s Latin City,” the NDRRMC report showed.
A small portion of the bakwits or internally displaced individuals, 1,790 families or 2,227 individuals, has sought shelter outside evacuation centers.
In total, the Zamboanga standoff has affected 23,794 families or 118,819 individuals from 14 barangays of Zamboanga and a village in Zamboanga Sibugay.
The P71.2 million assistance covered medicines, medical supplies and relief goods as well as financial assistance to the casualties and rescued hostages, the report said.[]
As of 6 a.m. Saturday, the NDRRMC reported that a total of 103 persons have been killed in the clashes—10 from the military, three from the police, 10 civilians and 80 MNLF fighters.[]
