Canada has announced that it is providing Cad$ 800,000 (PhP 32 million) in new humanitarian assistance funding for those impacted by conflict in Mindanao.
The amount will go to a project of the International Organization of Migration, which aims to address the immediate needs of the thousands residing in the areas of MIndanao affected by the conflict.
In a statement, Canada’s ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder said, “Canada’s support will ensure that conflict-affected families in the region will have access to improved temporary shelter conditions, access to safe drinking water, improved access to sanitation and hygiene facilities, as well as improved nutrition,”
“We continue to build on our strong ties with the Philippines with this assistance,” Ambassador Reeder added.
The funding comes in the heels of an announcement made by Canada, naming the Philippines as one of its “countries of focus” in terms of development assistance.
The effects on a long-standing conflict continues to be felt in Mindanao, despite the recently-signed peace agreement last March 2014 between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Thousands of displaced families live in desperate conditions, residing in over-crowded evacuation centers that are beset with increasing health risks, malnutrition incidents and protection issues.
The new funding will support IOM’s efforts to support the conflict-affected, especially the women and children by improving the coordination and management of camps for more than 25,000 internally displaced people in 10 evacuation centers and four temporary shelters, as well as improving conditions in temporary shelters by providing privacy partitions for approximately 4,000 families in evacuation centers.
“Canada’s generous contribution of $800,000 to IOM for its humanitarian relief in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao is helping thousands of vulnerable people,” said Marco Boasso, IOM Chief of Mission in the Philippines.
“Canada’s support will pay for camp management in evacuation centres for displaced persons and transitional shelter for people leaving the centres and returning home. It will also support the Bangsamoro Peace Process. The IOM Mission in the Philippines is grateful for the generous support of the Canadian government.”
IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration and provides humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, be they refugees, displaced persons or other uprooted people. Canada has a long-standing relationship and strong partnership with IOM.(Canadian Embassy/PIA)
