Marawi’s children need us now.
In times of conflict, children suffer the most.
They lose their homes, schools, families, and at worst – their childhood.
Overall, around 80,000 children are affected by the conflict situation in Marawi.
Help us reach all of Marawi’s children. Your donation will change a child’s life.
Displaced by conflict
In May 23, Marawi City made headlines as government forces and a local armed group clashed.
Bullets were exchanged and several properties were damaged – including hospitals and schools.
As of June 14, 320,131 people were displaced.
Around 21,863 of them are staying in evacuation centers. There are a total of 79 evacuation centers currently available:
- Lanao del Sur: 42
- Lanao del Norte: 36
- Cagayan de Oro City: 1
Meanwhile, 298,268 people are home-based or living with relatives.
Due to the surge of internally displaced people (IDPs), some evacuation centers are becoming underserved and crowded.
There are also reports of some IDPs being turned down by certain evacuation centers.
As of June 16, the conflict continues.
And 1,100 civilians are trapped within the conflict zone, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government estimated.
Reports also indicate that the local armed group is using civilians as human shields.
Children living in fear
Children need immediate psychosocial support.
Many are still frightened when they hear sirens and loud sounds, which they relate to possible aerial strikes.
They are starting to live in constant fear, with a decreasing sense of normalcy.
Children are also too scared to leave their parents, afraid of being separated – especially in case bombings happen again.
There are children who cry and shake when they see anything resembling military, trucks, and uniforms.
They are showing signs of psychological distress, which is a normal reaction during abnormal situations.
Disrupted education
Around 33,000 school-aged children from Marawi City were displaced by the conflict.
Tracking and enrollment of these children are ongoing in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. So far, only 7,866 children were tracked down.
Classrooms in host schools are too crowded, making them unconducive for learning. Basic school items among poor families are also lacking.
Such problems make children hesitant to return to school.
Meanwhile, 1,400 teachers were displaced. Half of them have already been tracked down by the Department of Education (DepEd).
Some schools are occupied by IDPs. Hence, presenting challenges in conducting classes which are supposed to start on June 18.
Host schools will need temporary learning spaces, chairs, and teachers to accommodate the large volume of transferee students.
Children’s health
Marawi’s children are staying in evacuation centers that lack clean and safe bathrooms.
The available portalets are poorly maintained since there are just too many people sharing them.
Interventions must be done to prevent outbreaks of illnesses like cholera and measles.
Key health concerns in evacuation centers are gastroenteritis and respiratory infections.
Response
Whatever happens, a child’s education should never be disrupted. And one’s childhood should never be cut short.
Save the Children is providing education, protection, hygiene, and psychosocial support for Marawi’s children:
- Back-to-School Kits
We are committed to distributing 3,000 kits. - Teacher Learning Kits
To facilitate learning of children using the Temporary Learning Spaces. - Hygiene Kits
We are committed to distributing 3,000 hygiene kits for school-age children. - Temporary Learning Spaces
To accommodate the surge of enrolled displaced children, we have distributed 10 TLS so far, which can accommodate 40-45 children each. Each space is equipped with learning kits and teaching aids. More will be dispatched in the coming days. - Child-Friendly Spaces
- Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
To address the distressful experiences of children. - Early Childhood Care and Development Kits
To support the schooling needs of children under 5 years old.
Save the Children is especially concerned with how conflict impacts children’s mental and emotional well-being. Children exposed to such violence need our care and support.
We’re providing protective spaces where children can freely study, play, and go back to normalcy through psychological first aid.
Our team is continuously assessing children’s needs through active dialogue. We are also coordinating with the DepEd and local partner organizations to ensure the protection of Marawi’s children.
Help us save lives. Your donation of any amount goes a long way. Save Marawi’s children today.
