8 displaced children in Marawi die due to diarrhea

Eight children affected by the ongoing conflict in Marawi City have died due to diarrhea.

A report on Balitanghali on Saturday said the children were among the thousands of people displaced by the conflict, which is now on its sixth week.

The report added that at least 2,500 displaced residents are suffering from post traumatic disorder due to the ongoing conflict.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Saturday said that as of 12 noon, a total of 2,666 families or 11,774 displaced city residents are staying in 40 evacuation centers.

It also reported that the number of home-based internally-displaced families was already at 31,673 or 148,824 persons.

The number of deaths of civilians at evacuation centers is not included in the death toll being released by the military.

On Friday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said a total of 44 civilians have been confirmed killed by members of the Maute group while 1,713 people have been rescued by troops.

The terrorists killed by troops was at 303 while soldiers killed has increased to 82.

The conflict in the city started on may 23 when government troops attempted to apprehend Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, also the reported emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia.

The attempt to arrest Hapilon was followed by the Maute group's attack on the city on the same day, which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao. —ALG, GMA News