COTABATO City—Diplomats from the European Commission and the United Nations visited evacuees in Central Mindanao on Thursday to look into the plight of people displaced in the fighting between government forces and separatist rebels.

Pia Facultad, information officer of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), said Deputy Country Director Alghassim Wurie and Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, started a two-day visit to Maguin-
danao, and North Cotabato, where there are thousands of evacuees affected by the police action against wanted Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander Ameril Umbra Kato.

Facultad said Wurie and MacDonald will visit on Friday the evacuees in Datu Piang, Maguindanao and Pikit, North Cotabato.

“Since the conflict began in early August, we have received a contribution of $200,000 from Luxembourg, and another $619,000 from the UN Central Emergency Fund for our operation in Mindanao,” Facultad said.

The WFP has so far dispatched some 1,700 metric tons of rice to 400,000 displaced families from Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Sarangani and North Cotabato.

Earlier, the European Commission earmarked €7 million (P470 million) to help civilian victims of the fighting.

Of the total financial assistance, P270 million will be used for immediate humanitarian relief while P200 million will be spent for the evacuees and host communities affected by conflict over recent years.

The EU’s funds will be channeled through UN agencies, the International Red Cross and other nongovernment organizations.

In a statement, MacDonald said conflict in Mindanao can only be resolved through dialogue and called upon all parties to show restraint and genuine respect for rule of law.

He also said those responsible for the destruction of properties must face the law.

“This assistance reaffirms the European Commission’s longstanding commitment to help the people of the Philippines affected by natural or man-made disasters. It will be used to cover emergency food distribution, drinking water and additional sanitation facilities, non-food relief items, basic shelter assistance, health care and psycho-social support, emergency support to livelihood rehabilitation and protection,” MacDonald said.

People left their homes as violence broke out on August 10 following the aborted signing of a preliminary accord between government and MILF for a proposed Bangsamoro homeland.

The Supreme Court blocked a draft peace agreement that would have created a separate state for Muslims controlled by the MILF rebels.

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EU, UN diplomats visit Mindanao evacuees

COTABATO City—Diplomats from the European Commission and the United Nations visited evacuees in Central Mindanao on Thursday to look into the plight of people displaced in the fighting between government forces and separatist rebels.

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