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| Southeast Asia |
| Death toll still rising long after MNLF siege |
| 2014-03-24 |
| Loss of life continues six months after a standoff between Philippine government forces and a splinter Moro militant group, casting a shadow over this week's signing of a comprehensive Bangsamoro peace accord. It is not because of violence, but of disease throughout congested encampments and the refusal of local authorities to allow the evacuees to return to their homes long after the emergency spawned by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) uprising had passed. The military says nine civilians were killed in the three weeks of fighting in September last year that also left 23 soldiers and policemen and 100 MNLF fighters dead. More than 10,000 houses were burned in nine villages, forcing 116,000 people to flee their homes. About half of those who were displaced have gone back to their residences. Around 20,000 are in nine evacuation centers facing appalling conditions and 38,000 are in the homes of relatives or friends. Since the end of the fighting, at least 102 more deaths have been recorded by a UN-led cluster. |
| Posted by:ryuge |