Close Encounters with the Enemies To avoid re-traumatizing children, the group was careful not to directly ask children about their negative experiences of the war. Nevertheless, it cannot be avoided that during conversations, some children, especially the older ones, will share stories of people or events that made a strong impact on them. Two of these accounts are presented below: While the two girls were waiting for their parents outside their house, they saw a group of men roving the streets. The men did not hurt them but they pointed their guns at them. Neither did the girls saw these men hurting anyone in the streets; they were just looking around and threatening people with their guns. The girls knew that they were members of the Maute group because they saw the men open fired at a nearby school, and waved their black flags thereafter. (Johannah, 17 y/o and Amrera, 14 y/o) On the morning of May 23, after transporting passenger to a nearby barangay, Jamal came home only to find that his family has already left. He was informed later on that his family had fled to an unknown place for fear of being hit with bullets or killed by the warring parties. He tried asking for their whereabouts but no one could tell him. He then went to Brgy. Bangolo, Marawi City where he met some members of the Maute Group. One man tried to convince him to join their group by offering him with an M16 rifle. When he decided to refuse, he was told to flee so that he would not be killed. (Jamal, 14) Assistance to Children with Disabilities Two (2) children in Saguiaran are found to be suffering from a congenital disorder known as “polio”. Antomama is a four-year old boy and the second youngest child of the eleven children of Lorayda. Her mother Lorayda explained that she became ill during her pregnancy. Despite her constant check-up, still she experienced difficult labor and delivery. When she gave birth to her son, she noticed that her son had small legs. Over the months, Lorayda noticed that her son had difficulty standing up and walking. Aminodin is a 14-year old boy who is born with Polio. His medical condition has left him unable to stand and walk. He is currently under the care of his elder sister Casmirah because his parents have decided to stay in MSU to take care of their ailing parents and to look after their small farm. Their displacement made the situation more difficult not only for Aminodin, but to her sisters as well. Inside the evacuation center, no available support was made available to Children with Disabilities, and their families. For instance, Aminodin has to be carried by her sisters behind their backs whenever he needs to use the toilet. Such is not an easy task considering that Aminodin is bigger than her siblings, and comfort rooms are located meters away from their sleeping area. Lorayda and Casmirah both agreed that the displacement suffered by their families made the circumstances even more difficult for the two children. They can only hope that the needs and concerns of these children, as well as that of their families, in times of armed conflict be made visible to the government so that Children with Disabilities are able to enjoy the same rights available to other children. Concretely, it is wished that the two (2) boys, and other children who are similarly situated, be provided with wheelchair or any assistive device that will help improve their mobility. Unaccompanied Minor 71