Maguindanao refugees get UN food aid

The United Nations has distributed relief goods to thousands of internally displaced people in the southern Philippines. The distribution, led by acting Maguindanao governor Nariman Ambolodto, was carried out Monday, January 18, 2010 through the support of the Muslim autonomous region under the the UN Action for Conflict Transformation for Peace Programme, which is now on its fourth and final phase of the Government of the Philippines – United Nations Multi-Donor Programme that started in 1997. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 20, 2010) – The United Nations has distributed relief goods to thousands of internally displaced people in the southern Philippines.

The distribution was carried out Monday through the support of the Muslim autonomous region under the the UN Action for Conflict Transformation for Peace Programme, which is now on its fourth and final phase of the Government of the Philippines – United Nations Multi-Donor Programme that started in 1997.

Acting Maguindanao governor Nariman Ambolodto distributed relief goods to more than 1,400 displaced families in the province. Thousands more are still in different refugee shelters in Maguindanao.

With support from the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Spain, the ACT for Peace Programme is being implemented over a period of five years, starting in June 2005 up to May 2010.

It covers 16 provinces and 14 cities of the former Special Zone for Peace and Development in southern Philippines and four more provinces and three cities in the Caraga Region considered to be also vulnerable to armed conflict.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council serves as the overall implementing agency of the ACT for Peace Programme with the Muslim autonomous regional government as the lead implementing agency in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and lanao.

The United Nations Development Programme serves as the managing agent for the ACT for Peace Programme which contributes to the promotion of national harmony and a just conclusion of the government’s peace process and to strengthen peace-building efforts and sustain the gains for peace and development in southern Philippines. (Mark Navales)