Rapid Assessment Report

Municipality of Tubaran,

21 June 2018

Brief Overview of the Context and Province

Area: 435.00 km2 (167.95 sq mi) Population: 14,749 (2015 census) Income: 4th municipal income class Number of Barangays: 21 Main economic activities: Farming Name of Mayor: Hon. Khaledyassin Dimaporo Papandayan

Description of the crisis/ context

The ongoing firefight between the Philippine Army and remnants of the ISIS- escalated on Sunday, 17 June 2018.

As part of the military’s pursuit operation against local terrorists, they initiated airstrikes and artillery fires against the ISIS- Maute position in the boundary of the municipalities of Tubaran and , Lanao del Sur. There are no official reports yet as to the number of wounded people and casualties.

According to Ms. Casamila Sedic, MSWDO of the Municipality of Tubaran, barangays affected are as follows: Wago, Guiarong Tubaran, Malaganding, Tubaran Proper, Madaya, Gaput, Dinaigan, Paigoay, and Alog. An estimate of 500 families have already evacuated. IDPs are currently in evacuation centers in one Arabic school, Tangkal Elementary School and Tubaran National High School. The rest are staying in the in the multi-purpose building of Malaganding.

Security context

Tubaran town is near of , the stronghold of the Maute-ISIS group. The clash erupted on June 17, 2018 because of the alleged presence of Abu Dhar, a former lieutenant of slain ISIS emir Isnilon Hapilon, who led a faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Maute Group. The operation against ISIS began on June 14, 2018. The 49th Infantry battalion of Armed Forces of the occupied the municipal hall of Tubaran.

Assessment process/ Keys informant The team conducted a courtesy call and interview with the Municipal mayor, Municipal Planning and Development Officer and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Officer and some local government officials. Then, the team conducted a visit to evacuation centers with the local government unit officials. Two groups of IDPs (totaling 13 people) were interviewed regarding their current situation, needs and assistance received. The assessment also includes direct observations. The team also had a chance to talk with the representative of 49th IB currently staying in the municipal hall since 14th of June 2018.

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Main humanitarian Findings Table 1. Number of Displaced Families/ affected sitios/ barangays/municipalities

Municipality Barangays Current Location Number of Families Number of Idps /EC Tubaran, Lanao del Sur Wago, Guiarong Madrassah EC 37 185 Tubaran, Tangkal 171 855 Malaganding, Elementary School Tubaran Proper, Tubaran National 91 455 Madaya, Gaput, High School Dinaigan, Paigoay, Tangkal Multi- 88 414 and Alog Purpose Building Home-based in 336 1,680 Brgy. Tangkal TOTAL 723 3,589

 Affected population: . A total of 723 families (about 3,589 individuals, mostly women and children) from 11 affected barangays have been displaced as of June 20, 2018. A total of 387 families took shelter in 4 established evacuation centers while 336 families are home-based. . IDPs received food packs with 6 kilos of rice from local government unit of Tubaran and provincial government of Lanao del Sur. . Senior citizens also received 5 kilos of rice from the provincial government. . Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Lanao del Sur conducted a medical mission, distributed water containers, aquatabs, and mosquito nets to IDPs staying in evacuation centers.

Shelter finding . A total of 387 families (1909 persons) took shelter in 4 established evacuation centers while 336 families (1,680 persons) are home-based. . 88 families (414 individuals) are very congested in the Tangkal multi-purpose building. The local government provided tarpaulins, which IDPs installed on the side of the building. During the day, most of IDPs are out of the EC, roaming around just to decongest the EC. . Some IDPs need to pay 5 pesos just to use the bathing area of private own houses near the EC. Water is also 5 pesos per gallon. . As can be expected during the onset of emergency crisis, there is no privacy in evacuation centers. . Communal cooking areas are established but cooking utensils and fire wood are lacking. IDPs need to buy bundle of fire wood for 50-60 pesos.

Humanitarian needs/ gaps

. At the time of the assessment, IDPs are bathing in the schools and madrassah but temporary walling needs to be constructed for the safety and privacy of the IDPs, especially women and children. . More tarpaulins are needed to decongest ECs. There is also a need to erect tarpaulins in vacant areas in the school perimeter that will serve as playing area for children.

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WASH finding

. The IDPs staying at their relatives’ and evacuation centers have limited access to latrines. Communal latrines situated in schools and the multi-purpose building are not sufficient given the large number of displaced persons. Some IDPs need to pay 5 pesos to use latrines in neighboring houses. . In addition, there is no regular source of water in the EC except for the water provided by the local government unit. . Some IDPs rely on rain water for domestic use. . Some families purchase their drinking water from nearby water distribution for 25 pesos per gallon. Most home- based IDPs do not have containers for water collection and storage. . Most IDPs are bathing without bath soaps or shampoos; tooth brushing is not practiced because of a lack of toothbrushes and toothpaste, which were left in their homes. . The Integrated Provincial Health Office of Lanao del Sur conducted a medical mission, from which many IDPs benefited.

Humanitarian needs/ gaps

. Home-based IDPs urgently need NFI such as mats, mosquito nets, malong. . IDPs have expressed the need for diapers for their infants. . Open defecation would be practiced if the IDPs have no more money to pay for the use of privately owned latrines and the number of communal latrines is not augmented. . EC based IDPs are priority to receive assistance by some government units. The LGU is appealing for equal support for both EC and home-based IDPs.

Food Security and Livelihoods finding . Farming is the main source of income of the communities affected by this conflict. They are worried because a majority of them left without their most valued asset, their farm animals. Other IDPs were forced to sell their working animals due to the lack of space for animals in the evacuation center. . Interviewed heads of the household are worried about their food if the situation continues and gets worse, they do not have any income in the evacuation center. The food they received from local government unit of Tubaran may last only for 2-3 days especially to families with more than 6 members. They are hoping for more relief assistance from government and NGOs. . IDPs cooked individually for their own family using a communal cooking area. They share food with other IDP families, and most IDPs borrowed cooking utensils from host families since these items were left in their home. IDPs need to buy fire wood for 50-60 pesos per bundle which is quite expensive. . The market is accessible but according to the IDPs they do not have money to purchase the food or items they need.

Humanitarian needs/ gaps

. IDPs received food packs with 6 kilos of rice from the provincial government unit of Lanao del Sur and local government of Tubaran at the time of the assessment. According to interviewed IDPs with children, the content of food pack they received are mainly for adults, and they need milk for their infants. 3

. The local government unit of Tubaran appealed for more assistance for the IDPs. They are still uncertain about the duration of the military pursuit operation against Maute-ISIS group.

Education finding

. Not only schools in barangays affected by conflict are closed but so are the schools in the host barangay. Classes in Tangkal Elementary School and Tubaran National High School are currently suspended since schools were occupied by the IDPs. The assessment team failed to talk with a DepEd representative in the area but the Municipal mayor said that classes will remain suspended as long as IDPs are occupying the school building.

Humanitarian needs/ gaps

. He local government unit of Tubaran and DepEd need to work together and find a solution to these education concerns. The LGU may need to transfer the IDPs to other vacant buildings. . If the IDPs cannot return home immediately, teachers need to track their pupils and temporary learning centers need to be established in the host communities.

Logistics finding . Phone network availability: Only Globe phone network is functional. Hand held radios are the main means of fast communication in interior barangays. . Road accessibility status: The host barangay is accessible by vehicles. Interior barangays are accessible by 4X4 vehicle or by horse due to bad road conditions. . Check point in place: AFP check points are in place. . 49th IB in municipal hall are using a generator due to the lack of electric power in the area. Most IDPs use traditional lamps in the evening or solar lights. Electric fans or air-conditioning units are not necessities in the area due to favorable climate conditions.

Protection concerns finding . As per observation, regular functions of LGU officials and employees are altered by the presence of government troops in the municipal hall of Tubaran. Some office heads were in the executive’s house at the time of the assessment. . There is currently no privacy for the IDPs. Bathing facilities are located in an open area, making women and children at risk. . The number of latrines is not sufficient for the high number of IDPs. Open defecation may be an option for the IDPs if latrines and water supplies are not provided.

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Summary needs/gaps: At the time of assessment, EC based IDPs received mosquito nets, water containers, and aquatabs from Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of Lanao del Sur. Home-based IDPs also require such assistance. Most IDPs cannot cater to their basic needs due to limited facilities in evacuation centers and a large number of IDPs in the host households.

Food assistance, hygiene kits and NFIs such as kitchen utensils, milk and diapers for infants are among expressed needs of interviewed IDP households.

Recommendations: Urgent needs of the IDPs are sufficient supply of potable water and containers for water collection and storage for home- based IDPs.

Cash assistance for the IDPs is necessary for them to increase their capacity to access their most needed items particularly milk and diapers for their infant children.

IDPs also need hygiene and NFI support especially to the home-based.

The government troops are occupying the municipal hall may need to vacate so that the normal transactions of the employees and local constituents can resume.

IDPs in Tangkal, Multi-Purpose Building. This EC hosting 88 families with 414 individuals.

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ACTED interview with the municipal mayor of Tubaran, Lanao del Sur.

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