IN PHOTOS: ICRC President visits Marawi, notes ‘the work is not yet done’

MARAWI, Philippines – On his second visit to the Philippines on June 3, International Committee of the Red Cross President Peter Maurer walked through the ruins of Marawi City more than two years after the armed conflict happened on May 23, 2017.

“In my visit to Marawi City this week, I saw a community dealing with the physical and psychological impact of conflict. I met a family of a missing person that hasn’t lost hope that news about their relative will arrive soon.” Maurer said. (READ: ‘Longing’: Images of Marawi evacuees)

Two years on, there are still close to 100,000 people displaced from Marawi, unable to return to their homes. These people face various problems, such as dealing with psychological trauma, accessing essential healthcare, and finding potable water, among other things.

Jumping off from this, he also thanked the thousands of volunteers and humanitarian workers for their unrelenting support that helped uplift the spirits of the displaced people.

Maurer shared his thoughts after talking to high-ranking officials and emphasized that the people need to be able to count on the authorities to be responsive to their needs. He explained, “I felt a commitment and resolve to find effective, long-term solutions to humanitarian issues of concern, despite considerable constraints they deal with.”

“Nevertheless, in talking to victims, responders and authorities, I can see that the work is not yet done,” Maurer added. He stressed there was still a lot to be done to rehabilitate the city and the people, adding all members of society have a shared responsibility to provide reprieve to those affected by the armed conflict.

“We all need to do more in our respective roles. We need to do better at addressing the consequences of conflict, but also, we need to do better in preventing or reducing those consequences,” he also said, promising the ICRC – along with the Philippine Red Cross – with will continue to serve their primary responsibility of addressing the humanitarian concerns of the people, no matter who or how far they are.

 – Rappler.com