33 displaced Marawi residents die in evacuation center

A total of 33 displaced residents of Marawi City have died in an evacuation center in Iligan City amid the ongoing clashes between government forces and the ISIS-linked Maute group.

A report by Victoria Tulad on Unang Balita Tuesday said the evacuees mostly died from pneumonia, dehydration and diarrhea.

The report added that several other displaced residents staying in evacuation centers are suffering from depression.

In the same report, 18-year-old Salma Bella, who is due to give birth in a few days, is worried about how she will support her child because her family had lost their home in the conflict.

She said that she also lost all her personal belongings and money along with everything else.

Bella and members of her family are among the nearly 400,000 residents of Marawi who have been displaced by the ongoing conflict.

"Manghihingi ako sa mga tao para yung anak ko magkadamit siya," Bella said.

Bella and the other evacuees availed of the services of a medical mission of the Department of Health (DOH) Region X in Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte.

A baby named Baby Johaifa who came down with a fever and cold was among the refugees who received medical attention.

"Kapag walang gatas...minsan tubig lang," Iya Casan, baby Johaifa's mother said when asked if her baby was getting enough sustenance in the evacuation center.

The DOH said said that some of the refugees were also suffering from hypertension, cough, fever, cold, and skin diseases like scabies.

"We are now hopping from barangay to barangay, offering our services and then once we find out that there are illnesses that we cannot handle right there and then, we have to refer them to the hospitals," Emiliano Galban Jr., DOH regional information officer, said of their medical mission.

The mental health of the evacuees is also among the concerns being addressed by the DOH.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that about 2,500 evacuees are reportedly suffering from depression due to the ongoing clashes in Marawi city. They assured that residents are being assisted with psycho social processing.

"Merong evacuees na hindi na rin makapag-isip nang mabuti dahil tuliro na nga sila so kailangan mo talagang silang i-counselling. Yung counselling sa kanila, yung iba merong iyak nang iyak," Undersecretary Hope Hervilla said.

Evacuees  Aisani and Jamilah, who are cousins, said that they often cry when they recall their harrowing experience.

"Sana tigilan na nila itong ginagawa nilang masama sa Marawi," Jamilha Amir said.

To help the evacuees forget their troubles even for just a little while,  National Youth Commission (NYC) chairperson Aiza Seguerra visited and serenaded them.- Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/ALG, GMA News