mahirap, sana matapos na maam. Kaysa ganito hirap-hirap, araw araw, gabi-gabi. Putukan, nakaka trauma” Norhata, Normina, Jomilla, Balo-I EC The interview with the women of the Baloi was more like an FGD, where the women shared their common experiences as IDPs. The women interviewed were also relatives. Norhata is 20 years old and eight months pregnant, Normina is 24, and Jomilla is 38. Normina’s husband suffers from gangrene and needs assistance in walking, this made it difficult for them to evacuate. Asked about their experience in fleeing Marawi City, it becomes apparent that one of the direct effect of the conflict is the separation of families during flight. The husbands of Norhata and Normina were tricycle drivers in Rizal Park in Marawi City, on the day the conflict broke out, the men were working and they saw Isis men on the streets. The men then headed back to their wives fearing that the conflict would escalate and also heeding the deadline given by the Maute/Isis – which is five hours. Norhata relayed that unlike the other women who were in the Baloi EC since June 10, she herself just arrived on the 3rd of Jul, having come from another EC in Romain. Norhata narrated that when the conflict started, she initially sought shelter in an evacuation center within the city, but after several days, even said evacuation center no longer felt safe with the bombing getting nearer and nearer, almost hitting the gymnasium that they are staying in. She then headed for the EC in Ramain where she stayed until the end of June, and until she received money from her relatives in Baloi. The other women narrated that their husbands fetched the and they proceeded to exit Marawi City with their husbands trike. As they cannot all fit in the tricycle some membes of their family had to walk to get out of Marawi. One of the concerns of the women is their monthly amortization of the motorcycle which they obtained in Iligan Cty. Without work and means of income, they would surely be remiss in her payments. One of them also shared how her family was supposed to transfer to their new house on the 23rd, when the conflict erupted. She shared that she and her husband saved to build the house, they have a mini sari sari store in the new house, and when the conflict erupted, they have just bought supplies in time for Ramadan. It pains her heart to leave the new house even before they occupied it and to leave as well the supplies they just bought. Another woman volunteered how her child suffered from trauma because of the firefight and the bombing, she shared that she often catches her child staring into space, “Nakatulala lang, pag may naririnig sya na mga putukan, natatakot sya.” Asked about their needs, the women echoed the answers previously given: cash, tent, foam ,electric fan, medicines, food and biscuits for children, arinola, thermos, cooking wares etc. For the pregnant women they also emphasized their need for food other than noodles and canned goods, they clamor for fish and for chicken and other nutritious food. Finally, on their message for the President, like others they wanted for the conflict tond, they want employment and aid in rebuilding their destroyed/bombed houses, one of them said “ Gusto na naming wala nang gulo tas mabgyan kami n trabaho tapos mapalitan yung mga bahay na nasira naming.” Jocelyn Lagata The firing started around 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon on the 23rd. When it started, I rightaway told my husband to go home from work. But according to him, he is trapped with his employer in their place of work. But I still waited for him my two children until 6:30 in the evening. But since I can no longer called him because there was no signal, I decided to leave the house together with the children. But before we left, I peep over the window. I saw members of the ISIS, two women and a man; they are wearing full black and only there eyes can be seen. But 55