This International Day of Families, we salute all parents taking the extra mile to ensure their family’s safety in the most difficult time. Salahudin Ulilisen, 22, and his wife Badria, 20, remain vigilant when alerts are up in their village of Kitango in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Living in an area with numerous cases of armed conflict, these parents are always prepared to evacuate and keep their one-year-old child away from harm.
“It’s difficult, dangerous, and terrifying to be displaced. But we need to evacuate. We carry our belongings and our child on a motorcycle, and immediately go in a safe area,” said Salahudin.
Salahudin (left) and Badria (right) together with they 1-year-old daughter Sadia.
The Ulilisen family is among the 350 families who fled from their village and sought refuge in an evacuation center in Barangay Salbu of the same town. According to Badria, it’s hard to leave everything behind but they need to go to safer grounds as their lives are most important.
The transitory tent that serves as the temporary home of the Ulilisen family.
Since 18 March, Salahudin and Badria are living in a transitory tent, which they try to feel like home for their infant. They are hoping for armed conflicts to end so they can come back home soon and have a more decent place to raise their child. #
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The town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan is among the service sites of the Mindanao Protection Project (MPP) in Maguindanao Province. The MPP is a joint partnership of CFSI and UNHCR that addresses the immediate protection needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Central Mindanao.