ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 06 Apr) The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday praised the United Nations for the $27 million food aid program to Mindanao in support to Manila's effort to end the decades long strife in the southern region.
The United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) on Thursday said plans are underway to start the food aid operation in Mindanao to assist more than two million people from poor and conflict-torn communities, especially families displaced by the violence and former former combatants.
"The World Food Programme looks forward to assisting the government of the Philippines and the people of Mindanao in bringing food security, improved health and nutrition and other tangible benefits of peace to the communities hit by conflict," said Anthony Banbury, WFP Regional Director for Asia.
The United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) on Thursday said plans are underway to start the food aid operation in Mindanao to assist more than two million people from poor and conflict-torn communities, especially families displaced by the violence and former former combatants.
"The World Food Programme looks forward to assisting the government of the Philippines and the people of Mindanao in bringing food security, improved health and nutrition and other tangible benefits of peace to the communities hit by conflict," said Anthony Banbury, WFP Regional Director for Asia.
Mindanao is home to about 14 million Christians and Muslims, and at least 18 other indigenous tribes. It is also a stronghold of the MILF, the country's largest Muslim separatist rebel group fighting for the establishment of a strict Islamic state in Mindanao.
The MILF, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, said the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).
"We welcome this development and the UN food aid will surely help a lot of poor people in conflict-torn areas in Mindanao. It will provide the much needed humanitarian assistance to many poor Muslim communities and the MILF is willing to take part and help the UN and the government undertakes this noble cause," said a senior rebel leader Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF chief peace negotiator.
The MILF, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, said the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA).
"We welcome this development and the UN food aid will surely help a lot of poor people in conflict-torn areas in Mindanao. It will provide the much needed humanitarian assistance to many poor Muslim communities and the MILF is willing to take part and help the UN and the government undertakes this noble cause," said a senior rebel leader Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF chief peace negotiator.
He said while the peace talks are going on, the rebels are willing to help the government start rehabilitating Mindanao through the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), put up by the MILF and the Arroyo government in 2002.
The BDA is tasked to implement all rehabilitation and development programs in Mindanao, he said. "We have gone a long way and the peace process is now bearing fruits and we are optimistic to sign a peace deal with the government that will bring long and lasting peace to everyone in Mindanao," Iqbal said.
The UNWFP said the food aid operation will be carried out in cooperation with Philippine government and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and nearby provinces.
It aims to support the peace process between the Arroyo government and the MILF by providing tangible assistance to civilians in the areas affected by the conflict, where poverty, nutrition and education levels are far worse than anywhere else in the country.
More than half of the population lives on less than US$0.60 per day and about 30 percent of children under five years of age are malnourished and just one third of children finish primary school.
President Gloria Arroyo last week appealed for aid from international donors to help hasten the peace process in Mindanao. She said the peace talks are on their final stage and that negotiators are expected to sign an agreement before the year ends.
The UNWFP said the one year operation has a budget of US$27.2 million, but the amount of actual assistance provided will depend on donor response. Last month, Tokyo announced the first major contribution of US$1.2 million for the Mindanao programme as part of their aid package to UNWFP's operations addressing peace building activities.
This contribution to WFP was welcomed as further evidence of Japan's commitment to peace building and human security. "We are grateful for the support received for this critical operation from the Government of Japan, and we seek the support of other donors," said Banbury.
President Gloria Arroyo last week appealed for aid from international donors to help hasten the peace process in Mindanao. She said the peace talks are on their final stage and that negotiators are expected to sign an agreement before the year ends.
The UNWFP said the one year operation has a budget of US$27.2 million, but the amount of actual assistance provided will depend on donor response. Last month, Tokyo announced the first major contribution of US$1.2 million for the Mindanao programme as part of their aid package to UNWFP's operations addressing peace building activities.
This contribution to WFP was welcomed as further evidence of Japan's commitment to peace building and human security. "We are grateful for the support received for this critical operation from the Government of Japan, and we seek the support of other donors," said Banbury.
The UNWFP said it also received assistance from Citigroup, a global financial services provider that has worked with the World Food Programme in the past.
Sanjiv Vohra, Citigroup Country Officer for the Philippines, said: "As part of our global partnership with WFP, we are happy to extend our support to WFP, providing the team office space and communication installations that will jumpstart their operations."
"Citigroup's close management support has allowed our staff to focus immediately on the needs of the people of Mindanao." said Coco Ushiyama, WFP 's Officer-in-Charge for the Mindanao operation.
The World Bank also said it was preparing a $50-million international development assistance package for Mindanao, but the aid would be disbursed only after a peace agreement is signed between the Filipino government and the MILF.
The World Bank also said it was preparing a $50-million international development assistance package for Mindanao, but the aid would be disbursed only after a peace agreement is signed between the Filipino government and the MILF.
Many Arab countries, including the influential Organization of Islamic Conference and the World Muslim League, are strongly supporting the peace process. President George W. Bush also offered as much as $30 million to help develop Mindanao once the MILF seals a peace agreement with Manila. The money will be used to help the rebels return to the mainstream of society.
Last year the United Nations Development Program and the European Commission agreed to carry out an 18-month rehabilitation project benefiting people displaced by armed conflicts in Mindanao, particularly in the provinces most hit by the fighting and destruction.
The MILF also joined the calls of the President for development aid in war-torn areas in Mindanao, but said Manila should hasten the peace process.
"Although we welcome President Arroyo's appeal for international aid and join her efforts to develop war-torn areas in Mindanao, the MILF must say that a comprehensive peace agreement is very important before donor countries can help and start pouring aid to the region," Eid Kabalu, a spokesman for the MILF, said.
Kabalu said many donor countries, like the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada, and the European Union and other Muslim countries led by Saudi Arabia, Libya and Malaysia, have pledged to help once the peace agreement is finally signed.
"We will appreciate all foreign assistance to Mindanao for the future of the Bangsamoro people," Kabalu said.
He also said all assistance intended for the development of the conflict-affected areas in the region would be taken care of by the BDA.
"It is the Bangsamoro Development Authority which has the authority to spend resources intended for the conflict-affected areas for either infrastructure projects or otherwise, and other than stability in the region, the economic well-being of the country is expected to take off once the conflict in Mindanao finds a comprehensive, just, fair and acceptable solution," Kabalu said.
Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said the government will tap the Mindanao Trust Fund for the implementation of development projects in the region once the peace agreement is signed.
The fund, he said, has been set up by the Arroyo administration, the World Bank and international donor countries to help rehabilitate Mindanao.
U.S. Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney, who was in Zamboanga City and Basilan island on Tuesday, also pledged more development assistance to Mindanao through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM), a five-year initiative that began in September 2002 to undertake a wide range of projects to increase economic productivity, and to contribute to attaining lasting peace in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.
USAID's Jon Limborg said the agency is also willing to provide more grants for Mindanao, once a peace agreement is signed between the Srroyo government and the MILF
"We could implement very quickly should there be a peace agreement signed between the Philippine government and the MILF," he said.
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