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State of calamity declared in Philippine province

Surigao del Sur runs out of funds to help thousands displaced by violence
State of calamity declared in Philippine province
Displaced indigenous villagers seek shelter in the stands of a sports center in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur province. (Photo by Vincent Go)

 

Published: September 18, 2015 08:20 AM GMT
Updated: September 17, 2015 10:15 PM GMT

Dwindling resources to care for the more than 3,000 indigenous people displaced by violence in the hinterlands of Mindanao have forced the provincial government to declare a state of calamity.

Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny T. Pimentel told ucanews.com that the declaration was made because the province was overwhelmed by trying to care for the displaced, who fled their homes following the Sept. 1 killing of two tribal leaders and an educator.

"The killings caused massive evacuations from San Miguel and Lianga towns. [The displaced] are now staying in Tandag City at our sports complex," Pimentel said.

Provincial administrator Efren Rivas told ucanews.com that the province’s stock of relief supplies will run out by Sept. 21.

Pimentel said the province does not have the funds to buy food and other supplies to assist the displaced. Declaring a state of emergency would allow the provincial government to pull funding earmarked for other projects in order to provide emergency aid to the evacuees.

For more than two weeks, some 3,000 Manobo tribal people have stayed in makeshift shelters inside a sports complex in Surigao del Sur's capital city, Tandag.

The exodus of the Manobos started Sept. 1 when members of the paramilitary group Magahat-Bagani Force allegedly killed Emerito Samarca, head of a school in the village of Diatagon in Lianga town.

On the same day, gunmen shot and killed indigenous leaders Dionel Campos and Aurelio Sinzo in front of the villagers.

Representatives of the paramilitary group have denied involvement in the killings.

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