Photo: AFP The Church in the Philippines has opened its doors to help thousands of refugees who fled clashes that erupted in Mindanao during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.
More than 6,000 people fled their homes when armed militants launched concerted attacks on army units, hitting three villages in Maguindanao province with mortar fire.
According to local media reports, mortar shells began raining down on the villages of Daplawan, Elian and Kitango, killing two children.
Fr Clifford Baira, director of Cotabato Archdiocese’s Social Action Program for Peace and Justice, said the evacuees were occupying several schools and churches in the province and receiving help from the Church’s social action arm group Caritas.
“We are feeding thousands of evacuees now, both Christian and Muslims. Religion is not the issue now but the safety of all Filipinos,” he said.
“May those responsible show some mercy. Please, we are suffering enough as a nation. Let us set violence aside.”
Bishop Arturo M. Bastes of Sorsogon called the attacks a heinous assault and an “inhuman act of murder in the midst of a pandemic that has caused so much suffering”.
Authorities believe the attack was launched by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a radical group fighting for an independent state of Mindanao.