IDPs HELPING IDPs: THE TABANG MINDANAW NUTRITIONAL FEEDING FOR IDP CHILDREN IN INDANAN
Date: 31 March 2007
Author: Milet Mendoza

For at least 20 days in February and March 2007, Tabang Mindanaw (TM) facilitated a nutritional feeding program for a maximum of 850 children spread across three evacuation areas in Indanan. These are 200 children at the Bato Bato Elementary School, 280 children in Kasambuhan Elementary School and 378 children in Talatak. The feeding program also included other vulnerable groups like pregnant women and lactating mothers, the sick and the elderly.

On 23 February 2007, TM conducted a field validation activity in Sitio Kasambuhan, Tagbak, Indanan in Kilometer 4, where a “mis-encounter” involving two groups of Scout Rangers allegedly occurred on 19 February 2007 resulting in the death of a 14-year-old boy and wounding another 20-year-old male companion. Till this day, the military claims this most unfortunate incident as a legitimate operation. This event compelled at least 106 families residing around the vicinity to seek cover at the Public Elementary School in Kasambuhan, which instantly turned into an evacuation center. Subsequently, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) grew due to continued military operations which drove away families from the Marang area.

Home cooking by IDP mothers volunteering to manage the nutritional feeding program for their children

TM began its feeding program for the children and youth, and other vulnerable groups at the Kasambuhan Elementary School on 25 February 2007.

Evacuee volunteers for the feeding program in Indanan, Sulu. Displaced families in March set up camps at the public school. Most had nothing except the clothes on their backs and their children in tow. (March 2007) Majority are back home now in their mountain communities.

The IDPs were organized for the twice-a-day nutritional feeding program with at least ten active volunteers per area, mostly mothers assisted by some men, who managed the program implementation after having undergone minute training given by TM. Moreover, the IDP volunteers took charge of the name listing of the IDPs with prompt and honest recording. Stock provision is, likewise, accounted for based on an agreed menu. The basic nutritional ingredient in the porridge is Vita Meal, which has all the basic nutrients needed by the human body. Children, regardless of age, were prioritized by the feeding program. For every eight to ten kilos of rice, half a pack of Vita Meal is added to the concoction of its local preparation of arroz caldo in the morning, and sindol (sweetened porridge with coconut milk) in the afternoon. Children are encouraged to take more than one serving. In addition to the Vita Meal, TM has also provided plastic feeding bowls and spoons, rice, brown sugar, salt, spices (garlic, ginger and onion) and cooking oil. Hand soap and dishwashing soap were also provided. Children’s vitamins and deworming tablets were also administered in the beginning of the feeding. The IDP communities counter parted the other needed ingredients and materials for the cooking. The IDP mothers of Kasambuhan accompanied TM on its assessment visit to the other IDP areas located in Talatak and Bato Bato, also in Indanan. There they assisted in organizing the IDP mothers for the feeding program of another 450 children. This undertaking proves that with the basic motivation and minimal organizing, the IDPs can more effectively initiate a feeding program for their children whose innocence has been constantly robbed by violent interludes of military operations in their communities. This shows as well that the IDPs can manage to fend for themselves with some quality humanitarian assistance that promotes transparency, discipline and participation. More importantly, the program upholds their sense of dignity as they are able to take pride in their undertaking and not just wait in line for government assistance, should it come at all. Indeed, the IDP women in Kasambuhan have shown how much they feel for the suffering of their fellow IDPs from Kagay and other areas. They know each other and feel for each other's pain. This, indeed, could serve as the beginning of community self-help among IDPs in Sulu especially in the light of constant displacements. The long wait for government agencies and/or LGUs is nothing new for the IDPs. They have depended upon themselves to survive in the best way they could, perhaps due to absence of choice. Nonetheless, the plight of the IDPs must reiterate their own basic human right to relief assistance. As this article is being written, only one round of 10-Kg rice provision per family has been provided by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office with the assistance of the World Food Programme. TM’s feeding program was also a recipient of rice provision from WFP.

2x a day feeding program for evacuee children in Sulu managed by volunteer evacuee- mothers