UN refugee agency praises Sulu government for strong support

SULU – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has praised the Sulu provincial government for its strong support in responding to humanitarian situation.

The UN refugee agency has recently distributed relief items to villagers in Patikul town displaced by clashes between security and Abu Sayyaf forces.

UNHCR Field Associate Rasul Kulat said the strong support from the provincial government has been critical in making humanitarian operations possible. He said the openness of local government units to humanitarian partners also motivates UNHCR to further bolster its efforts to rebuild the lives of displaced families.

“There is also strong support and commitment from the Provincial Government thru the Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction Management Office in responding to displacement situation,” Kulat said.

The UNHCR said displacement is difficult and unjust for anyone anywhere and this is doubly felt for those living in a place as remote as Sulu, where logistical obstacles and protracted conflict makes humanitarian efforts challenging.

It said displaced families had to fend for daily survival while worrying that another skirmish can uproot their lives once more. Relief operations and protection monitoring are crucial to help restore hope in an island scarred by conflict, according to the UNHCR.

But through the “Bayanihan spirit and inspiring teamwork” between humanitarian actors and the local government that aid is able to arrive in Mindanao. UNHCR said it provided beneficiaries in Sulu with non-food items such as kitchen sets and cooking utensils. Having fled with nothing, the families were grateful to receive necessities that lifted some of the weight brought by life in displacement.

It said the road to building better futures is faced with challenges caused by clashes between armed groups that disrupt the people’s way of life and hamper the aid delivery to Sulu. “Loss of livelihood occurs when skirmishes happen. Schooling is also disrupted for the children, making it difficult for them to rebuild their lives. For now, displaced families of Sulu rely on the support of government and private donors to survive the day-to-day. More support is needed to provide them basic facilities such as WASH facilities and sturdy shelter materials,” the UNHCR said.

“WASH” refers to the provision of water, sanitation, health care waste management, hygiene and environmental cleaning infrastructure, and services across all parts of a facility. (Zamboanga Post and Mindanao Examiner)