The group is pleased to note that the evacuees were taught by the DOH to practice proper hand washing when eating and using the toilet. This effort is made evident by a number of advocacy materials that are seen posted in the conspicuous areas around the evacuation centers (i.e., stage, entrance and near the wash room). The International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC) also contributes in this advocacy by providing fresh water to the evacuees and conducting regular seminars on proper hand washing and waste disposal to prevent outbreak of communicable diseases. Right to Security and Safety There were no cases of abuse of children that were gathered during the visit in the Evacuation Centers. Based on our interviews of both parents and children, there were no major incidences involving children in the evacuation centers; only petty fights (“away bata”) among teenage boys. Children also feel safe inside the evacuation centers because they are far from the war zone. “Minsan naririnig namin ‘ung putok pero pakiramdam namin ligtas na kami dito,” says a child from Balo-i. “Hindi kami natatakot dito, may mga eroplano lang pero wala namang nag-aaway,” shares another girl in Maria Cristina. To further secure the facility from outsider and maintain peace and order, the IDP group leaders together with the camp manager of Saguiaran decided to form a group that regularly monitors and roves around the evacuation center. In other evacuation centers, like Buruun and Maria Cristina, curfew is being strictly imposed; gates are closed by 9PM. Lack of Documentation IDPs are very much aware of the strict security measures that are being imposed outside the evacuation centers for they have received reports of Muslim people being held and questioned by the military at checkpoints. Children, especially the young boys, are advised not to leave the evacuation centers. Parents fear for the lives and security of their children, they believe that their lack of proof of identification will cause their arrest In Saguiaran, a thirteen year old boy admitted that he was not allowed by her mother to attend school because the latter fears that his son will be arrested by the military because he has no identification card to present. “Kahit gusto kong pumasok, ‘nde nalang kasi kawawa naman mama ko. Ayaw niya mawala ako sa paningin niya. Natatakot siya na pag lumabas ako ng Evacuation Center baka raw mapagkamalan akong terorista ng mga sundalo, wala kasi akong ID”, explained the boy to the group. A 16-year old girl in Balo-i recounted that while they were about to leave their house in Marawi, her mother told her to take hold of an envelope containing some documents. “Dala po pala namin ung mga birth certificates namin, yun lang ang sinagip ng mother namin. Importante daw un.” One of her cousins who joined the conversation said, “Number 1 na kailangan namin dito ay Identification talaga, kami kasi nde namin nadala ung birth certificate”. May nag-apply daw ng sedula dito pero nde pwede, nde naman daw kasi siya nakatira dito.” 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) 71