Medical researches reveal that children and adolescents exposed to armed conflict are at high risk of developing mental health problems. The traumatic experiences they encountered often stay with them until they grow up, unless properly addressed.
To help the children cope with the trauma caused by their experiences, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with partner government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and faith-based groups now conduct psycho-social interventions, such as stress debriefing and games and play therapy to children and psycho-social healing to adults staying in various evacuation centers in Regions X, XII and ARMM as a consequence of the ongoing military operations in Marawi City.
The Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Order of the Franciscan Missionary, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) church workers and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) hold games with and conduct therapy sessions for around 523 children in the various evacuation centers.
According to Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo, “Malaki ang bilang ng mga bata na apektado ng mga operasyong militar ng AFP laban sa Maute group. Sila ngayon ay nasa iba’t-ibang evacuation center sa Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, at Cotabato City. Kailangan nila ang tulong para maunawaan nila ang sitwasyong kanilang dinaranas (There is a big number of children affected by the military operation against the Maute group. They are now staying in different evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Cotabato City. They need help so they will understand the situation they are now experiencing).”
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) and PRC have also provided stress debriefing sessions for about 487 men and women staying in the different evacuation centers.
As of June 7, 8am, 46,412 families or 222,108 persons have been displaced by the armed conflict in Marawi. Some 33 evacuation centers remain open serving 3,822 families or 18,473 persons. ###
