CFSI wraps up long-term aid for Marawi, Lanao Sur citizens

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–Another foreign assistance for the locals in this city and some parts of Lanao del Sur province has come to its end as the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) closed its long-term undertaking called Marawi COVID Response Project (MCRP).

The project lasted for three years and focused on delivering the necessary interventions to internally displaced persons (IDPs) here and in six other municipalities in the province who were drastically affected by the firefight in 2017 followed by the global coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 health crisis in 2020.

Accordingly, the international non-government organization, through funding from the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), was able to aid 4,000 families and at least 32,273 individuals, or 161% of its 20,000 target population.

The CFSI reported that of the 4,000 household beneficiaries, 3,149 received urban-based livelihood support, and 251 got separate livelihood support allocated for the local stranded individual (LSI). Meanwhile, 10,552 individuals or 2,019 households enjoyed community-based support for livelihood.

Moreover,  5,145 people, or 114% of their target 4,525 recipients benefited from their protection component wherein 3,801 were provided with civil registry documents in security paper (SECPA), 824 participated in stakeholders and protection forum, and 365 were oriented on protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), gender-based violence (GBV) and referral pathway.

On the other hand, 45 citizens partook in the forum group discussion pouring attention to IDPs and LSIs who are members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community while 1,038 information, education and communication (IEC) materials were installed and distributed to covered areas.

The CFSI further bared that 2,991 individuals or 110% of its target 2,711 residents were assisted with the various psychosocial support services wherein 705 benefited from the case management services, 357 obtained assistive devices, and 566 were included in the persons with special needs (PWSNs) referral to receive other forms of assistance in the future.

Also among the beneficiaries of the psychosocial support services were the 500 LSIs and PWSNs who were rewarded with care packages, and 863 dwellers who underwent different kinds of training.

Following this feat, CFSI Marawi Sub-office Head Jalil Usman expressed their elation, especially since they witnessed solid support in the implementation of the MCRP.

He stressed that whatever they reaped could be attributed to the extended helping hand of both their partner stakeholders and beneficiaries

“We are grateful that we were able to serve at least 65,000 individuals through our project. Ito ay dahil na rin sa tulong at suporta ng mga partner natin (This is also because of the help and support of our partners,” said Usman.

The CFSI earlier underscored that it would continue what they have started for this city. As such, they would open and enforce another project which would cover communities here until 2025. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)