Philippines: Marawi suffers humanitarian crisis during siege

Al Jazeera English

24 Jun 201702:48

Summary

TLDRThe video script narrates the plight of residents displaced by the conflict in Marawi, where thousands have fled due to fighting between local group 'The M' and government forces. The situation is dire, with at least 30 deaths, many from dehydration and waterborne diseases. The rainy season has exacerbated the conditions in the overcrowded camps, where basic sanitation and medical supplies are scarce. The government struggles to estimate the number of internally displaced persons, particularly those not in evacuation centers. The conflict has also affected education and healthcare, with many children unable to attend school and women giving birth prematurely.

Takeaways

🏥 A mother named Nora Unau rushed her 1-month-old baby to a nearby clinic due to suffering from dehydration.
👶 Michelle, a few days old, is in a difficult situation and needs better medical care but her family is poor and feels helpless.
🚨 Thousands of residents have fled Marawi due to fighting between a local group called 'The M' and government forces.
💔 At least 30 people, mostly children and the elderly, have died due to dehydration and waterborne diseases.
🌧 The rainy season has exacerbated the situation in the camps, with limited sanitation facilities and dwindling food and medical supplies.
🏠 Displaced civilians are living in packed camps, with over 300 families in one center alone, many of whom were already poor before the conflict.
🤰 A woman in labor is alone as her husband is at an evacuation center caring for their other children.
👶 Aaliyah Nasser, who just gave birth to her 10th child, is among those who have given birth prematurely due to the conflict.
📚 Martial law, which was reimposed in the region, has affected the lives of civilians, including the inability of children to attend school.
📈 The Philippine military faces a significant enemy but cannot predict when the siege will end.
📊 Data collection on the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is challenging, especially for those not in evacuation centers.

Q & A

What is the situation of the 1-month-old baby mentioned in the script?
-The 1-month-old baby, Mishael, is suffering from dehydration at an evacuation center due to the difficult living conditions after fleeing from Marawi.
Why did Nora Unau and her baby flee from Marawi?
-Nora Unau and her baby fled from Marawi due to the fighting that broke out between a local group called 'The M' and government forces.
How has the displacement affected the civilians who fled Marawi?
-Displacement has taken a heavy toll on civilians, with at least 30 people, mostly children and the elderly, dying from dehydration and waterborne diseases. The situation is expected to worsen as the fighting continues.
What are the challenges faced by the evacuation centers in terms of facilities and supplies?
-The evacuation centers are packed with more than 300 families, with limited basic sanitation facilities, and fast-depleting food and medical supplies.
What is the impact of the rainy season on the situation in the camps?
-The rainy season has exacerbated the situation in the camps, making living conditions even more difficult for the displaced people.
How is the Philippine military faring against the enemy in Marawi?
-The Philippine military is facing an enemy numbering in the hundreds but is unable to predict when the siege will be over.
What difficulties are the internally displaced persons (IDPs) facing in terms of data collection?
-Data collection is challenging, especially for home-based IDPs who are living with their families elsewhere and not in the evacuation centers, making it difficult to get accurate numbers of victims.
What are the broader implications of the conflict on the local population?
-The conflict has led to the loss of homes, jobs, and disrupted education for children. Many people have been dragged into a conflict they have little to do with.
What is the situation of the woman who is in labor mentioned in the script?
-The woman in labor is alone because her husband is at the evacuation center looking after their children.
Why did Aaliyah Nasser name her newborn son Marshall?
-Aaliyah Nasser named her son Marshall to reflect the uncertain times, keeping with the theme of martial law that was reimposed in the region.
How has martial law impacted the region of Menau?
-Martial law has been reimposed across the region of Menau, affecting the lives of the local population, including the premature birth of Aaliyah Nasser's 10th child.

Outlines

00:00

👶 Crisis in Marawi: Infant Dehydration Amidst Evacuation

The first paragraph describes the plight of Nora Unau, who seeks medical help for her 1-month-old baby at Clinic Michelle, suffering from dehydration due to the difficult conditions at an evacuation center. The situation arose from the displacement of thousands of residents from Marawi following fighting between a local group, 'The M', and government forces. The paragraph highlights the challenges faced by the poor, including limited access to medical care, sanitation, and food. The government's inability to provide a timeline for the end of the siege adds to the despair, with the rainy season exacerbating the situation in the camps. The narrative also touches on the broader impact of the conflict, including the loss of homes, jobs, and education for children.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Dehydration

Dehydration is a medical condition characterized by a lack of sufficient water in the body to maintain normal bodily functions. In the video's context, it is a critical issue faced by the baby at the evacuation center, highlighting the dire health conditions and lack of proper medical care in the displaced communities.

💡Evacuation Center

An evacuation center is a location designated to temporarily house people who have been displaced from their homes due to a disaster or conflict. The script mentions that Michelle, a baby, is suffering from dehydration at an evacuation center, illustrating the challenging living conditions and the urgency of the situation for those who have fled their homes.

💡Displacement

Displacement refers to the forced movement of people from their homes due to conflict, disaster, or other factors. The video discusses the plight of thousands of residents who fled Marawi due to fighting, emphasizing the scale of human displacement caused by the conflict.

💡Waterborne Diseases

Waterborne diseases are illnesses that are transmitted through contaminated water. The script highlights that dehydration and other waterborne diseases are the biggest killers in the camps, underscoring the poor sanitation conditions and the risk to public health in the displacement camps.

💡Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Pre-existing medical conditions refer to health issues that individuals have prior to a particular event or situation. The government's statement in the video that some of the deceased had pre-existing medical conditions suggests that the conflict has exacerbated health vulnerabilities among the displaced population.

💡Rainy Season

The rainy season is a period characterized by increased rainfall, which can worsen living conditions in areas with poor infrastructure. The script mentions that the rainy season has made the situation in the camps even more difficult, indicating the additional challenges posed by environmental factors to the already strained resources and living conditions.

💡Basic Sanitation Facilities

Basic sanitation facilities include access to clean water, toilets, and waste management systems. The video describes the limited availability of these facilities in the camps, which contributes to the spread of diseases and the overall poor health conditions of the displaced people.

💡Food and Medical Supplies

Food and medical supplies are essential resources for the sustenance and health of a population. The script indicates that these supplies are fast running out in the camps, highlighting the critical shortage of basic necessities and the potential for a humanitarian crisis.

💡Conflict

Conflict refers to a situation of opposition or struggle between two or more entities. In the video, the conflict between a local group called 'The M' and government forces is the root cause of the displacement and suffering of civilians, illustrating the devastating impact of conflict on communities.

💡Martial Law

Martial law is the imposition of military control over civilian functions of government, often in response to a crisis. The video mentions that martial law was reimposed in the region, reflecting the severity of the situation and the measures taken by authorities to address it.

💡IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons)

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are individuals who have been forced to flee their homes but remain within their country's borders. The script refers to 'home-based IDPs,' indicating that not all displaced individuals are in evacuation centers, and some are living with family elsewhere, which complicates data collection and assistance efforts.

Highlights

Nora Unau, a mother, rushed her 1-month-old baby to a nearby clinic due to suffering from dehydration.

The situation at the evacuation center is difficult, with many residents including infants and elderly facing health issues.

Displacement from Marawi has led to at least 30 deaths, mostly among children and the elderly, due to dehydration and waterborne diseases.

The government reports that some of the deceased had pre-existing medical conditions.

The rainy season has exacerbated the conditions in the camps, with limited sanitation and dwindling supplies.

Over 300 families are housed in one center alone, indicating the scale of displacement.

Many residents were already impoverished before the conflict, and their situation is expected to worsen.

The Philippine military faces a significant enemy but cannot predict when the siege will end.

Data on internally displaced persons (IDPs) is difficult to obtain, especially for those not in evacuation centers.

Victims of the conflict have lost their homes, jobs, and children's education is disrupted.

A woman in labor is alone as her husband is at the evacuation center, highlighting the personal struggles faced.

Aaliyah Nasser, who just gave birth to her 10th child, is among many women affected by the fighting.

Martial law, reminiscent of the 1970s, has been reimposed in the region, adding to the uncertainty.

The name 'Marshall' given to a newborn by Aaliyah symbolizes the current turbulent times.

The transcript provides a vivid account of the hardships faced by the people of Southern Philippines due to conflict and displacement.