80,000 hungry evacuees pack Zamboanga City sports stadium

Hungry evacuees swarmed a truck bearing clothes, thinking it was filled with relief goods.

“Akala namin pagkain. Mayroon namang pagkain, pero sa haba ng pila, mamamatay kami sa pagpipila [dahil sa] init ng araw,” said a middle-aged woman.

Residents of Zamboanga City displaced by the ongoing standoff between government troops and Moro National Liberation Front members started pouring into the Zamboanga City sports stadium as early as September 11. 

Their number, as reported by Balitanghali, swelled to nearly 80,000 Tuesday, a marked increase from Friday's 24,000. 
 

Family man Rommadil Banilod had to make puto out of crushed cassava for his six children, the youngest of which was currently sick.

 

“Hindi ko na alam kung saan kami pupunta. Gusto ko na sanang umuwi sa amin, [pero] wala naman kaming pamasahe,” said Grace Cabanilla, another refugee.

 

Cabanilla, who was found crying over a phone call, had lost contact with her husband since Monday. Her husband is currently stranded in the factory he works in, which is located in the combat hotspot of Bgy. Sta. Catalina.

 

“Umaasa talaga. Gusto ko na bumalik siya dito,” she lamented.

 

Ridsma Bahad, resident of Bgy. Santa Barbara, tried coming back to her home and found nothing but ashes.

 

“Oo, lahat na, nakatayo na lahat 'yung mga haligi. Pantay na, abo na lahat. Wala na [natira sa bahay], basta haligi na lang,” said Bahad.

 

Aduk Ladjhali, a refugee who also had his house burned down, wants to know if they would receive help in building their homes again.

 

“Ang hinihingi namin kung kailan po maitayo o kung mabigyan ba kami o hindi,” said Ladjahali.

 

DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman said that despite government officials and volunteers working to pack the overwhelming amount of goods they are receiving, the non-stop conflict prompts them to continue asking for donations.

 

“'Yung mga pangangailangan nila ng banig, kumot, tuyong damit, nagdi-distribute kami with Sanggunian ngayon. Maraming dumating mula sa USAID. Meron ding dumating mula sa World Food Program,” she said.

 

The ongoing combat between military and MNLF forces have forced people to flee from their homes. However, those who live in the middle of the conflict are stuck where they are with no way of rescue.

 

Government officials cannot reach them through the back exits of the towns, as these are swampy, mangrove areas which the MNLF use as base camps.

 

Evacuees are also being processed to ensure the safety of those already in the camps. Those who had no valid IDs or were not recognized by their barangay officials were sent to the nearest police station to await official action. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News