Manila/Geneva (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Philippine
National Red Cross (PNRC) today inaugurated new premises for the local PNRC chapter in Jolo, the capital of Sulu province in the southern Philippines’ Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The
province is one of the areas worst affected by armed conflict and one of the most impoverished in the country.
Representatives of civil society, local government, the armed forces, the
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attended the event.
"The chapter’s improved facilities are intended to enhance the response of the
PNRC and ICRC to the growing needs of Sulu communities," said Felipe Donoso, the ICRC's head of delegation in the Philippines.
"These communities are suffering the effects of repeated armed
clashes between the armed forces of the Philippines and insurgent groups." In its capacity as a neutral and independent organization, and in cooperation with the PNRC's Jolo chapter, the ICRC provided
medical care, food, shelter, essential household items and water and sanitation facilities to more than 48,000 displaced civilians in the province in 2007.
The actual number of civilians
forced to flee their homes by the armed conflict is probably much higher.
The ICRC and PNRC were able to provide this humanitarian aid on the basis of security guarantees given by the
parties to the conflict.
In response to mounting humanitarian needs in Sulu, the ICRC has been gradually stepping up its support to the PNRC since 2005.
The ICRC consistently
reminds the parties to the armed conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
In particular, it calls on them to respect and protect the civilian population and to
allow the distribution of humanitarian relief in accordance with the population's needs and without discriminating on the basis of politics, race, religion or sex.
Both the ICRC and PNRC
remain committed to providing humanitarian assistance and protection for the victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence.
For further information, please contact: Felipe Donoso, ICRC Manila, tel: +63 2 8928901
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26
