Difficult times for pregnant women from Marawi

We are featuring this story originally published by PIA regarding the plight of pregnant women from the war-torn city of Marawi to bring to fore the hardships displaced families are suffering due to armed conflicts. ED

ILIGAN CITY, July 28 -- Seven-month pregnant Aira thought that she would give birth to her fifth child and raise all her four children in the once peaceful Marawi City. But nowadays, they are in Balo-i town, Lanao del Norte as evacuees following the attack of Maute terrorist group during the Marawi clash.

Aira and her family lived in Marantao, Lanao Del Sur – a municipality near Marawi City where she earns income through doing laundry while her husband works as a farmer in Cotabato City.

She was the only one looking after her children during the aerial bomb attacks of the government against the terrorists. Fortunately, they managed to quickly evacuate before the terrorists reached their place.

“I tried to calm myself so that I could take care of my children,” Aira said in Filipino. Thinking that the war will end soon, the pregnant mother did not bring anything with her. All she did was pray to Allah that they will not have an encounter with the Maute group while on the road.

After six weeks, Aira and the other displaced residents are still asking when the war will end. Though grateful for the help they have been receiving including of that from the Operation Blessing of the Philippines, she still worries about the health of her children and of course including the one in her womb.

She cannot go to the doctor for her check-up due to the war. Their diet has been limited to canned goods and instant noodles, which they get as relief goods.

As the end of their days, as evacuees remain uncertain, their health also remains vulnerable to various diseases.

Operation Blessing is helping the Marawi clash evacuees in their health issues cause by this disaster. It has partnered with various organizations in bring hope to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the crisis through medical and dental missions, circumcision, free haircut and massage, health advocacy and psychosocial activities for children among others. It also distributed water filters for home-based displaced families particularly in Maria Cristina, Balo-i wherein most of them experienced symptoms of diarrhea the past few weeks.(OBP)