Omaira and Ainah and their neighbors from Gimbo, Bangko – Pantar Evacuation Center Omaira and Aina , are cousins from Gimbo, Bangko, aged 35 and 22. They are vegetable vendors in Marawi. Omaira had seven children, while Ainah had 4. During the interview with the cousins, their 70 year old neighbor joined the discussion, she was Nazaira Akmal. The women recounted their experienced in fleeing from Gimba, Bangko to their current evacuation center in Pantar. The women recalled that when the firefight began on the 23rd, they could already hear gunshots in Gimbo, Bangka. On the 25th of May, they felt that the firefight was getting nearer and 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 6th 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 54