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Over 82,000 people remain affected in S. Philippine clashes

Xinhua, March 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

About 16,500 families or over 82, 000 individuals remained affected in the continuing armed conflict in nine towns in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Thursday.

Of the affected population, 11,269 families or 56,345 persons are staying in 44 evacuation centers set up by the local government units.

The DSWD said that about 22.7-million pesos (512,000 U.S. dollars) worth of food packs and non-food items have already been extended to the families affected by the skirmishes between the government troopers and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters ( BIFF), the splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"Affected families staying outside evacuation centers are also being assisted," the department said.

The Philippine military has declared an all-out offensive against BIFF for allegedly coddling suspected terrorist Basit Usman, who escaped on the Jan. 25 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao where more that 60 people were killed, including 44 police commandos. Endi