Eight hundred fifty displaced families in Maguindanao received relief assistance from Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) through its quick response team (QRT) under the social welfare program on March 5, 2015.

The distribution took place in two evacuation centers in this province. Seven hundred fifty families were in Libutan, Mamasapano and the other 100 were in Dapiawan, Datu Saudi.

According to Nor Ayn Makakena, focal person on social welfare, this effort is in line with the mandate of BDA with regard to the humanitarian and rehabilitation in the conflict affected areas of Mindanao.

The relief assistance provided was food packages that included rice, canned goods, noodles, sugar, coffee and others.

The QRT of BDA organized in 2014 spearheaded this humanitarian initiative. Some BDA staff also joined the activity.

It is supported by Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), a humanitarian foundation based in Turkey which partnership with BDA began in 2014.

Displacement of families in Maguindanao is due to the current offensive operation of the Philippine government troops against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) following the Mamasapano encounter in January this year that killed 66 persons from the Philippine National Police- Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) and civilians.