By Charlie Señase, Ryan Rosauro
Inquirer Mindanao
First Posted 18:50:00 10/12/2010
Filed Under: Poverty, Food, Mindanao peace process, insurgency
COTABATO CITY, Philippines—The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) said some 250,000 people in war-torn and disaster-hit areas of Mindanao are starving and that about $26 million is needed to help them.
Stephen Anderson, WFP country representative in the Philippines, said displacements from armed conflict and calamities were the main reason why people could not provide food for themselves.
“Hunger exists and this is a serious problem,” he said.
Anderson, accompanied by TV personality and WFP ambassador of goodwill Kristina Cassandra “KC” Concepcion, visited the city and Maguindanao province on Monday to check on the progress of the WFP's “early recovery program.”
Anderson said the WFP allocation of $26 million was released in July and has been sustaining feeding missions aimed at the recovery of hunger-stricken people, including some 40,000 malnourished children.
Anderson said at least 70 percent of its target in the anti-hunger drive are in Maguindanao. The rest are in in the two Lanao provinces, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
Anderson said through the help of the departments of agriculture, social welfare and development, education, and local government units, the WFP introduced income-generating ventures in poultry and feed production, rope and compost-making.
Concepcion said the WFP intends to raise more funds to fight hunger by launching a social network program on Oct. 16, during the celebration of World Food Day.
She said whatever amount the social networking effort would generate could also help rehabilitate schools damaged by floods.
In Datu Piang town in Maguindanao, children have stopped going to school after floodwaters inundated their classrooms, according to local education officials.
In Ozamiz City, presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles urged local government units to play active roles in rolling out peace initiatives as the national government focuses on negotiating viable political settlements with rebel groups and embarks on post-conflict development initiatives.
She said the “critical work” for making peace initiatives successful, such as fostering an atmosphere of transparency and accountability, providing political space for people participation in social decision-making, lies with local governments.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20101012-297355/UN-250000-starving-in-war-torn-Mindanao
