COTABATO CITY- The
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government gets support from the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the establishment of
the ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART), an emergency
rapid response team intended to help curtail impact of disasters in the region.
The two parties inked a memorandum of
agreement Thursday afternoon to formalize and outline their collaboration, with
the UNHCR giving an initial funding of US$20,000 to help bankroll the launching
of the program in identified pilot areas.
UNHCR has earmarked a total of US$100,000
for the program, in addition to the technical support and a vehicle it is going
to provide to the response team.
ARMM Governor MujivHataman said they are
pushing for the creation of the ARMM HEART in view of the huge humanitarian
impact of man-made and natural disasters in parts of the region.
Data gathered by the UNHCR and the Regional
Human Rights Commission for ARMM show that at least 54,745 persons have
experienced various displacements in ARMM over the last 18 months.
A breakdown of the cumulative data reveals
natural disasters as the leading cause of displacements in the ARMM, accounting
for 57% of total displacements or 199,979 persons, followed by armed conflict
at 20% (70,989 persons), crime and violence at 12% (41,587 persons) and rido or
clan feuds at 11% (40,885 persons).
Lawyer LaisaAlamia, the region’s executive
secretary, said that apart from responding to emergencies, ARMM HEART will help
ensure the protection of internally displaced persons.
The autonomous region groups the
island-provinces of Basilan Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the mainland-provinces of
Maguindanao and Lanaodel Sur. (BPI)
