A displaced family seeks shelter in an evacuation center in Lanao del Sur province as fighting between Philippine security forces and a local terror group continues in Marawi City. (Photo by Mark Saludes)
Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are appealing for help as thousands of people continue to arrive in evacuation sites around the besieged city of Marawi in the southern Philippines.
As of June 2, the region's Crisis Management Committee has recorded at least 133,700 people from Marawi who have sought refuge in evacuation centers.
"While the ARMM regional government is addressing the humanitarian needs of the evacuees, we would highly appreciate help from the outside to help ease the plight of the evacuees," said Mujiv Hataman, ARMM governor.
Hataman said his office has already provided relief goods to at least 13,522 internally displaced families and will be sending more aid to evacuation centers.
The ongoing clashes in Marawi erupted on May 23 after gunmen claiming to have links with the so-called Islamic State tried to occupy the predominantly Muslim city.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the entire Mindanao region under martial law.
The government has set a June 2 deadline for the military to flush out terrorist gunmen from Marawi City to allow the safe return of displaced families.