Undetermined number of people forced to flee their homes following the eruption of conflict in Barangay Dasikil, Mamasapano around 5:50 A.M today (April 8, 2024) as part of the retaliation of the violent conflict in Pimbalakan, Mamasapano on April 4, 2024 involving the members of the armed groups believed to be associated with Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). This conflict has caused displacement of around 2,509 families more or less 12,545 people (based on CPMs and local authorities’ reports) from three affected Barangays (Pimbalakan, Tukanalipao and Daladap) of Mamasapano and two barangays (Linantangan and East Libutan) in SSM. Local protection monitors disclosed that this conflict was triggered by the recent ambush incident in Sitio Dakmuya, Barangay Mamasapano, Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur and believed to be attributed to the shooting incident in Poblacion Shariff Aguak couple of weeks ago and resulted to the killing of the two minors, allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
As of this time, fierce fighting in Dasikil, Mamaspano is still on-going and expected to escalate in adjacent communities within Mamasapano, SSM and potentially even in Rajah Buayan if there is no concrete intervention from local authorities and peace mechanism to de-escalate the on-going conflict and consequently facilitate settlement and conflict resolution.
For this reason, the internally displaced persons through the protection monitors appealing to the local authorities and conflict resolution mechanisms to interfere to cease the on-going fighting and facilitate dialogue towards peaceful settlement or resolution, and consequently create space for safe return of the displaced families as they continue to experience different illnesses as a result of very bad weather condition other than bitter observance of the remaining days of the holy month of Ramadan.
