they feared that the ISIS were already retreating and would soon be in their location. This
prompted them to flee and decide to leave their houses. Together with neighbors the women
contracted with a ‘habal-habal’ a motorcycle to transport them. They shared that they had to pay
PhP1,000 for the motorcycle and they had to divide the fee from among several families. The
women also shared that the road conditions from their place was terrible and often times they had
to dismount from the motorcycle to walk unridable portions, and then ride again. While the
women were fleeing their accounts told of the difficulty of travelling/fleeing with many children
in tow. For instance, exchanges with Omaira would show:
“CHR: Gaano kahirap magbakwit na maraming anak ang dala?
Omaira: Mahirap talaga maam pag marami. Napakahirap, hindi
madala-dala yung iba mong anak tsaka yung mga gamit mo sa
bahay
CHR: Nakadala k aba ng mga gamit sa bahay, kaldero?plato?
Omaira: Wala, walang kaldero. Yung anak lang talaga
sinigurado naming
CHR:
Paano
mo
nagawa
magbitbit
ng
pito?
Omaira: Kasi naglalakad yung iba, kasi yung iba mga lalake,
matatanda na. Yung maliliit lang yung aming inano
CHR: So yung pamasahe sa motor, yung pitong anak mo at asawa
mo kasama. Magkano yung binayad nyo?
Omaira: Sa amin one thousand dahil bakwit daw. Sabi ko ‘ oy,
maawa naman kayo sana sa bakwit”
In terms of their needs in the evacuation centers, the women answered that they needed
supplies for their young children including Milo, diapers and biscuits. They also said they needed
cash in the ECs to buy their needs in cooking like oil, sugar and salt. As women, they continue to
primarily perform most of the reproductive work, and worry about the absence of thermos, rice
cooker, cooking utensils, firewood and condiments. As mothers, the women also complained of
the different illnesses suffered by their children, common illnesses include cough, colds and
diarrhea. Specific to Pantar, the women shared that the medicines for their children are already
running out.
Asked of their message to the government, particularly the President, Omaira says “sana
maawa naman sila sa mga Maranaw kasi sabi nya may dugo siya na Muslim bakit di siya
naaawa?”, Aina adds “Sana tumigil na ang gulo para makabalik na kami sa ano namin.” They
also expressed their need for support in terms of housing and employment.
Samsha, Pantar EC
Samsha is nine months pregnant and is currently waiting for the day she’d give birth. With
the way that the conflict is going, she expects that there is a strong possibitlity that she will give
birth as an IDP. When she fled from Gimbo, Bangko,she rode a motorcycle or “habal-habal” like
her neighbors. She was so afraid then that she’s suffer from miscarriage. She has five other
children, and will be giving birth to her 6 th child. She described the orderal she had to through
riding the motorcycle, dismounting every once in a while due to the terrible road conditons, and
that it was even raining intermittently when they decided to flee. It was very difficult to be
preganant and to be with five other children. She added that she had fever while in the EC and
that she was brought by the camp managers to the hospital, she stayed in the hospital for five
days. It was free. With her upcoming delivery, Samsha worries about the needs of her baby, she
worries also if she’d have enough milk to feed her child. While she was assured that her delivery
would be free, she knows that after deliver she’s be needing baby clothes, and other needs.
She loos forward to the promise of housing, of cash for work. More than ever she and the
other women are looking forward to the end of the conflict, she said “Kahit sinabi n Duterte na
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