Sun.Star: 22,000 folk flee fighting in Basilan, Sulu

The number of residents displaced by the fighting between soldiers and Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan and Sulu has reached 4,513 families or 22,887 persons. Sun-Star Zamboanga reported Saturday that the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said this includes 2,722 families from Sulu and 1,791 from Basilan. NDCC executive director Glen Rabonza said that in Sulu, 1,474 families or 6,508 individuals had fled seven villages in Indanan town; 856 families or 3,854 people fled five villages in Parang; and 392 families or 1,320 individuals fled three villages in Maimbung. Rabonza said they are now temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers, including two in Indanan and three in Parang, established by the NDCC. He said the NDCC has also provided 5,000 sacks of rice while the provincial government gave 25 tents as aid to the evacuees. In Basilan, 990 families or 5,939 people fled their homes in seven villages in Al-Barka; 130 families or 716 individuals fled two villages in Tipo-Tipo; 358 families or 2,495 individuals fled four villages in Sumisip; and 313 families or 2,737 individuals fled Ungkaya Pukan. The NDCC gave the evacuees 3,000 sacks of rice while the Department of Social Welfare and GMA Kapuso Foundation provided 2,000 family-packs each. Other donors gave medical supplies and other basic needs. - GMANews.TV