Mindanao Displacement Dashboard, March 2021
In March 2021, a total number of 15,414 families (approximately 75,663 individuals) were displaced in Mindanao due to armed conflict (72,838 individuals) and crime and violence (2,795 individuals). Out of the 15,414 families displaced throughout the month, 4.90% (755 families) have returned to their places of origin by the end of January, leaving 95.10% (14,659 families or approximately 71,464 individuals) still displaced by the end of the reporting period. As of the 31st of March, a total number of 65,056 families (approximately 300,967 individuals) are currently displaced in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, on 4 March 2021, Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) were handed over in the Municipalities of Asuncion, Davao del Norte Province and New Bataan, Davao de Oro Province. In both municipalities, the events were done virtually and participated in by the Chief Executives and other local officials of Asuncion and New Bataan, and the staff of UNHCR and ACCORD. In Asuncion Municipality, UNHCR, through ACCORD, supported the construction of a satellite office for its Disaster Risk Reduction Management that will cover barangays which are hard-to-reach and prone to natural hazards, such as Binancian, Buan, Camansa, Napungas, and Sonlon. The said QIPs addressed the need for local emergency responders, equipment, and emergency vehicle of the targeted barangays which are among their priorities. The municipal local government unit augmented support to materialize this project. In New Bataan Municipality, the construction of WASH facilities, particularly toilet and hand washing stations, in an evacuation center in the municipality also addressed the lack of WASH facilities to cater the displaced populations during emergencies. Four cubicles of toilet were constructed to accommodate men, women, persons with disabilities and the LGBTQI community. This QIP will also help prevent the practice of open defecation which may contribute to the spread of water-borne diseases, and also promote regular handwashing as part of hygiene promotion.
UNHCR Mindanao team conducted a courtesy call with the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission Chairperson, Atty. Abdul Rashid Kalim on 12 March 2021. UNHCR had the occasion to introduce its new Head of Field Office, and to share accomplishments and current undertakings of UNHCR in the BARMM. Among the highlights of the discussion include the ongoing coordination of the Commission of Human Rights at the national level, collaboration mechanism with UNHCR in monitoring of human rights violations and protection issues of IDPs, legislative advocacy, the Commission’s participation in the protection coordination platform, and the needed technical assistance to build the capacity of their newly-hired personnel on IDP protection and information management.
A special meeting of the Protection coordination platform for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through the MVPCP was conducted on 22 March 2021 to discuss the current displacement in Maguindanao Province brought about by the armed conflict between the AFP and the BIFF. The said special meeting was participated by around 40 organizations from the government and humanitarian and development agencies. The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) BARMM presented the identified issues faced by the IDPs, responses from different organizations and the remaining gaps identified. As presented by MSSD BARMM during the said meeting, around 9,161 families (approximately 45,805 persons) were displaced in six municipalities that were affected by the conflict. Protection actors agreed to strengthen the coordination of responses to ensure the complementary of resources, avoid duplication of services, and ensure the delivery of protection services to all displaced persons. UNHCR, as the co-lead agency, committed to provide the necessary information management support to facilitate better the coordination of the members.
For more information, please download the March Displacement Dashboard.
