Philippines Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 8 | 1 to 31 August 2016

Highlights

• Mines and Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs) in farmlands, roads, villages and waterways in Mindanao continue to cause harm to the community, with children being the most vulnerable.

• In preparation for La Niña in the coming months, the authorities have issued a directive for all local governments to carry out disaster preparedness measures and develop La Niña action plans.

• There is growing capacity and political will in AsiaPacific governments to lead in disaster management.

• World Humanitarian Day in the Philippines honoured those who brave tremendous difficulties to assist those who are most in need.

• Armed conflict in Maguindanao that started on 13 July 2016 has ceased following intervention by authorities. Over 30,000 people were displaced, affecting 20 schools.

FIGURES

Southwest Monsoon

Families affected Over 250,000 (1.18M people)
(Source: National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of 24 August)

Basilan Displacement

# of IDPs hosted by friends and relatives 19,333
(Source: Integrated Resource Development for Tri-People Inc. (IRDT) as of 15 August)

Zamboanga Crisis

IDPs in transitional sites 13,899
(Source: Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Office as of 8 August)

Mines and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Mindanao

In conflict areas, non-state armed groups often use mines and munitions during combat, putting the local populace at risk of death and disability. Unlike weapons that are aimed or fired, mines are explosive containers that lie dormant until a person or vehicle triggers their detonating mechanism. UXOs are munitions that did not explode when they were employed, and pose a risk of detonation. Abandoned ordances such as artillery shells or hand grenades, are stocks of explosives left behind on the battlefield. In Mindanao, mines and munitions are strewn across roads, villages and waterways, putting at risk the lives and limbs of people, in particular children. The long-term damage to people, livestock and farmland greatly hinders development in the region. Mine risk education is aimed at reducing the risk of mines, UXOs and abandoned ordnances by raising awareness and promoting behavioral changes through public information campaigns, training and engaging with communities. Old mines from as far back as the Second World War and UXOs from recent conflicts continue to maim or kill people in southern Mindanao.

Mine Education in Mindanao

From 2013 to July 2016, 107 cases involving UXOs and 6 cases involving old mines were recorded by Fondation Suisse de Deminage (FSD), or the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, an international non-government organization that is undertaking focused mine risk education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Children are the most vulnerable to mine risk. Fifty-four per cent of the victims are under the age of 18. Hand and rifle grenades constitute 66 per cent of the UXO casualties while 51 per cent are caused by M79 grenades.