REPORT ON

BANGSAMOR
O DISPLACED
PEOPLE IN
MINDANAO -
2009
YAYASAN AMAL MALAYSIA

Working For Humanity – To Serve Allah

 YAYASAN AMAL MALAYSIA

REPORT ON BANGSAMORO

DISPLACED PEOPLE IN MINDANAO

2009

2|AMAL MALAYSIA
1.       Introduction

1.1              Mindanao conflict

The conflict in Mindanao rooted hundreds of years ago. Sultanate of

Sulu rules Sulu archipelago and the Island of Mindanao since 15th

century. They fiercely resisted the colonization of Spanish such that 

throughout 300 years of conflict, the longest Spanish occupation was

only 30 years. The Sulatanate was officially cease to exist following

America establishement of civil government in 1903. Eventually this

area was considered a part of Philippines when it gain independence

from USA in 1946. Since then there has been relentless war with

intermittent ceasefire between Bangsamoro and Philippine army. The

conflict is seen by Bangsamoro as their  continuous struggle against

non-muslim influence against them.

The current conflict was reignited following the Supreme court decision

in October 2008 to declare the negotiated MOA-AD(memorandum of

agreement- of Ancestral domain) unconstitutional. The Ancestral

domain is the most important and possibly the thorniest issue that is

still to be negotiated by the MILF and the Philippine government before

they can reach a political settlement. Ancestral domain refers to Moro

demand for territory that will constitute a Moro homeland; sufficient

control over economic resources on that territory; and a structure of

governance that will allow BangsaMoros to govern themselves in ways

that are consonant with their culture and with minimal interference

from Manila.

3|AMAL MALAYSIA
 The MILF has vowed to continue their armed struggle until Central

Philippine government agreed to their demand. consequently the

residents of conflict area were forced to fight or leave the place, living

behind their properties that were either lost or destroyed. These people

which are now totalling to 600 000 are relocated into so called

evacuation centres around the provinces. They are fully dependent to

assistance as their livelihood have been robbed by war. Unfortunately

helps are scarce, and they are in dire need of healthcare, shelter and

food.

1.2              Amal Foundation Of Malaysia /Yayasan Amal

Malaysia (AMAL MALAYSIA)

Amal Foundation Of Malaysia (AMAL) was founded on the 30th May

2001 with the Registrar of Organization under the Malaysian Society Act

1966 Rules 1984. Since its inception, AMAL has been active in providing

humanitarian mission locally and internationally. Realising a vacuum in

international Islamic humanitarian movement, AMAL has served the

under privilege Ummah in Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, China, Lebanon

and African Continent. AMAL is entirely runs by volunteers  and all the

operational needs are sourced from donation of generous people.

4|AMAL MALAYSIA
2.       Methodology

Information are gathered through observations and interviews with the

local government agency such as office of the municipal mayor, the

officers of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), Local NGO’s as

listed below and the affected internal displaced persons (IDP)

themselves. The period of study is from 8th until 11th December 2008

and the location of the study is in Cotabato, Datu Piang, Talayan,

Marawi in the province of Mindanao. 

3.       Limitation

The Report is prepared from sources and data which we believe to be

reliable. All efforts that has been taken is made without bias but we

make no representation as to its  accuracy or completeness. The report

is provided for informational purposes and can be construed as

providing recommendations. Opinions and information provided are

made as of the date of the report issue and are subject to change

depend on changes on the ground.

5|AMAL MALAYSIA
4.       Assessment

  4.1              Water & Sanitation

As far as we have observed, the IDP centres were not homogenous.

Some centers located closer to city or in the government compound

were slightly better compared to others such as in Datu Piang which

were dirty and not provided with a clean and healthy environment.

There were lots of slope and loops around the IDP’s living place.

The places were not provided with the basic needs such as toilet

and clean water. There were few centres which collect rain water for

daily consumption but at times were not adequate. Some international

agencies helped built toilets but ratio per IDPs were not enough.

4.2              Health

There were obvious lacks of medical service provided to the IDPs. The

public health facilities were close to non existence. A spartan medical

visits by volunteer groups were not adequate to cater hundreds of

thousands of IDP. Efforts by volunteers are also hampered by expensive

medicine.

There were no maternity services, whereby delivery conducted entirely

by the displaced peoples themselves. During our visit, we observed that

the common sickness are eye infection, skin infection and acquired heart

diseases such as rheumatic heart disease.

6|AMAL MALAYSIA
  4.3              Shelter

There were no appropriate shelter for the IDPs as they only lived under

canvas tents provided by the NGO’s.  There are also a lot of shelters

made by themselves by using nipah palms and bamboos and without

any wood or cement or any type of floor.  As were told by officers of

MILF, there are some cases in which a woman has to give birth without

any labour rooms and shelter.

In the province of Marawi, not many IDP families stayed at the IDP

centre because they live with their relatives. Unfortunately they have to

share a house with other three or four IDP families. This burden the

host family as they were ashamed if their relative stranded in IDP

centres.

4.4              Education

There were open classrooms made but there were lack of teachers.

Thus, in some places, a teacher has to teach two or three classes at

one time. The syllabus were limited to reading and writing skills with

some religious subjects.

7|AMAL MALAYSIA
 4.5              Food

There were alarming lack of food. Even though their land is very fertile

for plantation, the crops were destroyed raging war. The IDPs claim the

soldiers had seized their crops. As they did not have any source of

income, they were fully dependent to government and international aid.

UN food program more or less has lessen the burden but more help was

needed. 

5.       Recommendation

There is urgent need for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the people

lives. A proper temporary shelters for IDPs, construction of farms and

other food sources to provide them with food and clean water, clothes and

medicine for their health and sanitation. These are basic fundamentals

rights which were under critical stage.

Report by
Dr. Wan Shah Jihan b. Wan Din
Vice Chairman,
Amal Foundation Of Malaysia, Kelantan Chapter
 

8|AMAL MALAYSIA