Fear is the dominant factor preventing thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Mindanao from returning to their homes.
The southern island has witnessed an upsurge in fighting between government forces and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) since 10 August.
"I'm afraid. I don't know what to do," Norodin Benito said outside the Sambulawan evacuation centre, about 60km north of Cotabato city in North Cotabato Province.
The 22-year-old fisherman and his family fled to the Sambulawan elementary school after hearing gunshots outside their home just 1km away, joining 300 families at the camp-like facility.
More than 100 civilians have been killed in the fighting, reported the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) the chief government coordinating body for disaster and rehabilitation operations, with scores more injured.
"Respect for civilians remains a big issue," Ann Kristin Brunborg, a humanitarian affairs officer for the UN in Manila, told IRIN. All parties to the conflict, including armed groups, have a responsibility under international law to minimise the loss of civilian lives, property and infrastructure but so far that is not happening.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed as whole communities have been caught up in the crossfire and many of the displaced have fled with just the clothes on their backs.
"I want to go home, but only when this war is over," Tabayag Eman, 70, said – despite the dire conditions.
 Photo: Jason Gutierrez/IRIN  |
| MILF snipers take up positions on a minaret in Lanao del Norte Province, Mindanao Island |
Fluid situation
Clashes between government forces and the 12,000-strong MILF are now in their third month, after the Supreme Court imposed a freeze order on a government deal that would have established a sub-state or homeland known as the Bangsamoro Judicial Entity in Mindanao, including control over 700 towns and villages.
According to the British charity Oxfam, civilians now fear for their lives because of the presence of armed groups in their villages.
Of the 500,000 people affected, almost 400,000 remain displaced, the NDCC says, including around 100,000 living in more than 150 evacuation centres, comprising schools, community centres and makeshift camps, with the rest staying with family and friends.
Access to food, shelter, potable water and healthcare remain key concerns, while thousands of children are unable to attend classes regularly as many of the schools are being used as shelters.
Accessibility problems
According to a September Inter-Agency Standing Committee needs assessment, the pattern of displacement in the island's conflict-affected areas makes it difficult to accurately estimate the number of people displaced, as displacements are often for short periods but repetitive, with many of the IDPs "home based" (staying with families).
At the same time, areas accessible to aid agencies can be restricted from one day to the next due to fighting.
Last week, IRIN was denied access to Datu Piang, the largest evacuation centre, 3km from Sambulawan, where some 8,000 families or 40,000 people have sought shelter; a day later that restriction was lifted.
 Photo: David Swanson/IRIN |
| Norodin Benito and his family fled to the Sambulawan evacuation centre in Mindanao following a resumption of hostilities between government forces and the MILF |
So fluid is the security situation that it is difficult for residents and aid workers to gauge how best to proceed.
"I wish I could say I know what will happen, but I don't," said one aid worker, who asked not to be identified.
Even if a peaceful resolution between the government and MILF were found, however, it remains unclear whether many of the displaced will return to their places of origin, he said.
Clan violence
In addition to Muslim separatism, large parts of the island are plagued by banditry, an ongoing communist insurgency, as well as clan violence, known as rido, which is a major contributing factor to the crisis.
Deeply rooted in local politics and family relations, rido is often based on land disputes. Many of the displaced may return to their homes and property only to find them looted.
"Rido is part of this conflict and understanding that fact is crucial," Perry Proellochs, acting head of office for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Cotabato, told IRIN, warning: "There will be no solution to the conflict outside the solution on how to deal with rido."
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
