Rapid Assessment Report

June 19, 2018

Brief Overview of the Context and Province

Area: 218.00 km2 Population: 13,139 (PSA 2015) Income: 4th class municipality Number of Barangays: 18 Main economic activities: Farming Name of Mayor: Hon. Hanifah Aloyodan Diamael

Description of the crisis/ context

Pagayawan is 4th class municipality under second district of Lanao del Sur. Farming is the main economic activity in the locality. The town is located in the southern part of Lake Lanao and just in the foot of Mt. Raya.

On the morning of June 17, 2018 armed forces of the Philippines initiated airstrikes and artillery fire against the ISIS-Maute group. This incident resulted to displacement of 350 families from the affected barangays. Other affected families fled to neighboring municipalities of Binidayan, Marogong and Ganassi.

Security context

The municipality of Pagawayan is a mountainous area where there is a strong presence of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The town’s terrain and location became an advantage for hiding of loose command armed groups including the escaped terrorist group of Abu Dhar from Marawi siege.

Assessment process/ Keys informant

The team conducted a courtesy call and interview with the Executive Secretary and Municipal Planning and Development Officer (MPDO). Then, the team conducted a visit to evacuation centers with the MPDO and Executive secretary. Several IDPs been interviewed. One municipal councilor also assisting the MDRRMO and MSWDO been interview. The assessment also includes direct observations.

Main humanitarian Findings Table 1. Number of Displaced Families

Place of IDP Origin Host Barangay/Sitio Number of Number of affected families affected persons (estimated) Barangay Padas, Rangiran, Torel EC (Arabic school) 51 255 Guiarong, Diampaca, Paigoay, Ilian and Kalaludan Market EC 23 115 Birthing Center 14 70

Ambary Primary School 10 50

Tent EC 28 140

Brgy. Bialaan, Pagayawan 25 125

Brgy. Ayong 15 75

Brgy. Mapantao 32 160

Brgy. Bandara-Ingud 68 340

Brgy. Pinalanca 71 355

Brgy. Bubong 18 90

Total 355 1775

 Affected population: . A total of 355 families with an estimated 1,775 individuals (mostly women and children) from Barangay Padas, Rangiran, Guiarong, Diampaca, Paigoay, Ilian and Kalaludan have been displaced as of June 19, 2018. A total of 126 families took shelter in a madrassah (Arabic school), 3 vacant buildings serving as evacuation centers, while 229 families are home-based. . IDPs received 2 kilos of rice from local government unit of Pagayawan. . 23 civilians, all men, trying to return home to get some of their belongings and farm animals, were apprehended by government troops. They were subjected to investigation and interrogations. The local government unit of Pagayawan is currently negotiating for their immediate release.

Shelter finding

. A majority of IDPs (229 families) took shelter at their relatives’ and, as per the team’s observations, there were at least 3 to 5 families in one house. Home-based IDPs are ashamed to be hosted by their families but they do not have any other choice. . Torel EC (Arabic school) temporarily shelters 51 families with more or less 255 persons and a majority of them are children and women. At least 9 to 12 families are gathered in each room. As per observation,

the space is too small for the amount of people and lacks sufficient ventilation. Only a few families have mats, a majority of the IDPs are sleeping on the floor without mats or sleeping boards. . With the absence of mosquito nets, some IDPs used mosquito coil but they were afraid on the adverse side effects, especially to the children due to the lack of ventilation. . According to the executive secretary of Pagayawan, there is a need to decongest some of the home based IDPs and in Torel EC. They are currently clearing one vacant building in the vicinity of the municipal hall. . Lighting is also very limited, the electric power capacity being only up to 5 watts. Most IDPs are using solar lights.

Humanitarian needs/ gaps . According to the IDPs, they received 2 kilos of rice from the local government unit at the time of this assessment, which they already fully consumed. . IDPs need sleeping mats, mosquito nets, malong and cooking utensils.

WASH finding

. The IDPs staying at their relatives’ and Evacuation centers have limited access to latrines. Communal latrines situated in the Arabic school and market are not enough considering the large number of displaced persons. IDPs admitted that they practice open defecation in mountainous and forested portions of their current locations. . In addition, there is no source of water in Torel EC since the water connection to the spring was damaged several months ago and have not yet been repaired. IDPs fetch water in a water source 200 meters away. They have very limited water containers for water collection and storage. . Due to the distance of some IDP families to the source of water, most of them are just waiting for the rain to bathe. . IDPs are bathing without using bath soaps or shampoos; tooth brushing is not practiced because of the lack of toothbrushes and toothpaste. These items were left in their home.

Humanitarian needs/ gaps

. No assistance received from government or humanitarian organizations. . IDPs need containers for water collection and storage. . IDPs need hygiene kits to maintain hygiene and prevent illnesses. . Portable latrines are needed in the area. . Information dissemination on proper hygiene and garbage disposal is necessary.

Food Security and Livelihoods finding

. IDPs’ main source of income is farming. Some women own small businesses such as sari-sari stores (variety store). They are worried because a majority of them left their most valued assets and their farm animals behind. 3

. Head of households who were interviewed 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 have will last only for 2- 3 days. They are hoping for quick relief assistance from the government and NGOs. . IDPs cook individually for their own family using a communal cooking area. They share food with other IDP families. Most of the IDPs borrowed cooking utensils from host families since these items were left in their home. . The market is accessible but according to the IDPs they do not have money to purchase the food or items they needed.

Humanitarian needs/ gaps:

. IDPs received only 2 kilos of rice from the local government unit of Pagayawan at the time of the assessment. Food relief is one of IDPs most urgent needs.

Education finding

. Classes in schools of affected barangays are temporarily suspended. School-aged children are in the evacuation center, just roaming around or playing with their peers.

Humanitarian needs/ gaps

. If the IDPs cannot return home immediately, temporary learning centers need to be established in the host communities.

Logistics finding

. Phone network availability: Only smart phone network is functional. Hand held radios are the main means of fast communications in interior barangays. . Road accessibility status: Host barangays are accessible by vehicles. Interior barangays are accessible by 4X4 vehicle or by horse due to the bad road conditions. . Check point in place: AFP check points are in place. Vehicles passing through the municipality of Pagawayan are checked by governmental troops. They are also randomly asked to provide identification cards for verification.

Protection concerns finding

. Due to the lack of facilities (no mats and mosquito nets), IDPs’ health, and especially children’s, is at risk.

. Air and water borne diseases may spread also because of a lack of latrines and safe containers for water collection and storage. . There is currently no privacy for the IDPs. Bathing facilities are located in an open area, making women and children at risk. . IDPs who do not have any valid identification cards, especially men, are preventing themselves from roaming outside evacuation centers because they are afraid to be caught by the governmental troops and may be falsely identified as Maute-ISIS members or supporters.

Summary needs/gaps: At the time of this assessment, IDPs received 2 kilos of rice assistance from the local government of Pagayawan. IDPs are in need of immediate basic relief assistance, such as food, NFI, dignity kits and WASH items. Food aid to the IDPs is urgently needed. A majority of IDPs expressed that the food they have will last only for 2-3 days.

Hygiene kits for the IDPs are important because of altered hygiene practices. Their sanitation and hygiene practices changed due to the lack of bath soap and shampoo. They only use water, children cannot brush their teeth, and they have no toothbrushes and toothpaste to use. Due to the lack of sanitation facilities and the number of IDPs, people would rather practice open defecation in forested areas of their current locations.

Water containers or jerry cans for water collection and storage are needed, as well as temporary latrines. Kitchen utensils and sleeping kits like mats, mosquito nets and “malong”, especially for women and children, are also urgently needed.

Recommendations: Immediate basic relief assistance, such as food, NFI, shelter and WASH items should be provided. Water connection in Torel EC needs to be repaired by the local government unit for the convenience of the IDPs.

There is a need to decongest house-based IDPs, as well as the ones staying in and Torel EC.

Education committee needs to convene a meeting and take action. Temporary learning centers where teachers from affected barangays can continue to hold their classes need to be established, especially if the conflict continues.

ACTED interview with the Executive Secretary of Municipality of Pagayawan in the vicinity of Torel evacuation center.

ACTED interview with IDPs inside Torel (Arabic school) in Barangay Ngingir, Pagayawan.

Interview with municipal councilor assisting MDRRMO and MSWDO on validation and registration of IDPs.