Restoring hope for Basilan families displaced by armed conflict

Fearing for safety, depending on people for refuge, losing means of earning a livelihood, watching life change overnight and struggling to rebuild from scratch – 35-year-old Soraya* knows the disruption that armed clashes can cause. In November 2022, the lives of Soraya and nearly 50 families in Basilan province, Philippines, took a drastic turn as their village became a battleground of armed clashes between state armed forces and a non-state armed group. Soraya’s family and their neighbours fled their village and sought refuge with relatives in neighbouring areas. They had to leave with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

“It all happened so abruptly. Seeking safety was our primary concern so, like everyone else, we were unable to take any of our belongings,” says Soraya, who has three children.

The prolonged displacement tested Soraya, but she remained resilient for her family’s sake. Photo: A. Sanggacala/ICRC

Soraya thought they would be able to go back home within days but they remained displaced for almost six months. The armed conflict cut off access to their farmland and her husband was also forced to stop working as a rubber tapper. Whatever modest savings Soraya had depleted quickly as she tried to make ends meet for her daughters.

“Our community relies heavily on rubber tapping and agriculture. We used to make just enough to cover our families’ basic needs. Without our land, we had no means of earning and the armed clashes added to our financial burden,” she says.

Left with no choice Soraya borrowed money from her relatives. Her debt climbed to nearly Php 40,000 (around USD800). “Thankfully, our relatives are not charging us interest, but it’s still a staggering sum. I don’t know how I will pay them back,” she says.

When Soraya and her neighbours were allowed to return to their homes, everything was vastly different from how they had left it. Some houses were destroyed, farm animals were missing and even the small backyard barn where Soraya’s family worked was significantly damaged. “Although we were relieved to return, it felt like we were starting from scratch,” she says.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a humanitarian organization that works to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict, reached out to Soraya and other villagers to understand the challenges they faced. After careful assessment, the ICRC provided each displaced family with a cash grant in 2023. Soraya used the grant to buy essentials and regain a sense of control as she and her husband worked to rebuild their lives.

Staff from ICRC’s Zamboanga city office conduct post-distribution monitoring to assess how the families have been coping since receiving a cash grant. Photo: A. Sanggacala/ICRC

She also paid a portion of her debt, repaired her family’s makeshift house and started a small business by buying a few sacks of rice to sell in retail. “The business may not be much, but it is helping us get by. We received the financial assistance at the most opportune time. It has truly made a difference. My husband has also gone back to rubber tapping and we are now in the process of repairing our barn,” she says.

Soraya used the cash grant to buy five sacks of rice which she sells at retail to supplement her husband’s earnings. Photo: Soraya*/ICRC.

As her life inches back to some form of normalcy, Soraya is pursuing her college degree at a school in Basilan. She said she went back to school as she wanted to be a good role model to her daughters. “I hope seeing me study will encourage them to also go to college and work towards building a better future for themselves,” she says.

*Name was changed to protect her identity.

(This story was produced by the ICRC. Find out more: www.icrc.org)