Militant Fighting Puts Children at Risk
Around 1,500 people have left their homes for shelter. For the most part they are indigenous people and minors. They have choose to flee after new fighting has erupted between the military and the New People’s Army.
According to gmanews.tv the affected villages are, Kabuluhan, Lagangan, Han-ayan, Mike, Kilometer 16, Simowao, Emerald, Manluy-a, Panukmoan, all in Lianga, Surigao del Sur and Barangay Magkahunao in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur. The site also says the reason for the fighting is the military has launched a campaign to flush out the remaining communist in those 10 villages.
These people are in a really bad situation to begin with. Now they have to contend with illness that is spreading quickly through the camps. It is unclear if the government is providing any help. The government at one point even claimed communist were hiding out in these evacuation camps. The evacuee’s say if they were communist they would have stayed and fought with the rest. Seems to make sense to me.
At least 53 children are suffering from severe cough, runny nose, fever, diarrhea and eyesores. Without the medical help they need, these children are in very bad condition. There is also a lot of worry that it will spread quickly through the camp.
That’s really all the info I have at this time. I will do my best to keep an eye on this story…
Tags: flu, New People's Army, Surigao Sur