Mindanao Displacement Dashboard, November 2020
In November 2020, a total number of 957 families (3,785 individuals) were displaced in Mindanao due to clan feud (1,932 individuals), armed conflict (1,225 individuals), and natural disaster (628 individuals). Out of 957 families displaced throughout the month, 33.9% (324 families) have returned to their habitual residences by the end of October, leaving 66.1% (633 families or 2,725 individuals) still displaced by the end of the reporting period. As of the 30th of November, a total number of 58,533 families (268,592 individuals) are currently displaced in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, UNHCR conducted a two-day online seminar for members of the BARMM Parliament and their Legislative Staff on the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Law and Policy last 25 and 26 November 2020. The introductory session on 25 November gave an overview of the different persons of concern (refugees, stateless persons, and internally displaced populations) and UNHCR’s mandate of protection and was led by UNHCR colleagues from Pillars 1,2, and 4. Whereas, the second session led by Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs provided an in-depth look into the international framework on IDP Protection and good practices in other countries when it comes to protecting IDPs in national law and policy. This webinar forms part of the work of UNHCR to advocate for an IDP Protection Law in the BARMM.
On 26 November, the first session of the Webinar Series on Protection Mainstreaming with MSSD – BARMM was conducted via Zoom platform. Minister Raissa Jajurie of MSSD delivered her opening remarks extending gratitude to UNHCR on the assistance given to the ministry. The Minister encouraged MSSD staff in completing all four sessions until 17 December as this will help the ministry staff in providing improved service delivery in BARMM. UNHCR Country Representative, Mr. Shinji Kubo, shared the continued technical and in-kind assistance with the ministry. The Country Representative wished a successful learning journey for the participants in ensuring Protection at the center of their humanitarian action.
HLP meeting was conducted on 13 November 2020 to discuss the approaches relative to the recommendation of the Senior Protection Advisor on HLP on the creation of the HLP Technical Working Group. Said meeting was attended by UNHCR, UN Habitat, UNFAO, and UNOCHA. One of the challenges raised during the meeting was the lack of a Senior HLP Expert who will lead the technical working group, and an agency that will take ownership of the said task. Furthermore, the lack of funding resources to support this undertaking also surfaced as a concern. It was agreed that a list of recommendations will be addressed to the UNRCO, among others, in exploring the possibility of engaging an HLP expert to lead this initiative.
On 11 November 2020, UNHCR conducted its second TWG meeting on IDP Policy Advocacy and was attended by various humanitarian groups and Protection actors. Said meeting aimed to further refine its terms of reference as well as to discuss initial plans for advocacy. UNHCR is supporting the formation of a Technical Working Group among protection actors in Mindanao to support the passage of a law protecting Internally Displaced Persons in the BARMM, as well as at the national level.
The Community-based Protection Monitoring has commenced in the three pilot transitory sites in Marawi City. The conduct of field protection assessment and monitoring missions aims to assess the needs of IDPs at the evacuation centers and transitory sites as well as those who are newly displaced has been suspended. Trained IDP Volunteers by UNHCR conduct the monitoring on the selected sites. This project on Field Protection through Community Empowerment is implemented in partnership with ACTED and the City LGU of Marawi through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). The pilot testing of the project will be implemented until December 2020.
For more information, please download the November Displacement Dashboard.
