It was 2014 when Yusoph first felt the swelling in his leg. Medical practitioners in Marawi were unable to provide an accurate diagnosis and he was referred to see a doctor in Iligan City, about 50 kilometers from Marawi, for further consultations and, possibly, for amputation. Sadly, his family did not have the means to take Yusoph to Iligan, neither did Yusoph want to lose his leg.
Because of financial constraints and the lack of medical services in Marawi, his leg was left untreated and the swelling grew massively overtime, almost to the size of a basketball. This made it extremely difficult for Yusoph to walk and almost impossible for him to run.
Until 2017, Yusoph Edris, 35, his wife, Epi, 37, and their three children had lived all their lives in Marawi City. Two days after the outbreak of the siege, his family finally decided to flee the war. Yusoph was frequently mistaken for a terrorist because of his limping leg. His cousins had to carry him to the Pumping Bridge which they crossed only by foot because they had no vehicle. When men in black shirts, allegedly from the Daesh group, suddenly showed up in front of them, they had to move faster.
But how can you run when you can barely walk?
Halfway across the bridge, Yusoph begged his cousins to leave him on the bridge and save their lives. Refusing to leave him behind, they continued to pull their remaining strength just so they could cross the bridge together alive. Like an answered prayer, at the end of the bridge, they came across a man on a tricycle who gave them a ride away from the war-torn city.
At present, Yusoph and his family live in a tent in the Bito Buadi Itowa Evacuation Center in Marawi City.
CFSI’s Marawi Recovery Project (MRP), funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Government, granted Yusoph Edris livelihood assistance that enabled his family to open their own small retail store where he sold basic goods and meals. Because of this, he and his wife is now able to earn as much as Php1,000 a day.
Today, Yusoph shares with pride that he and his family are no longer dependent on relief and can now provide for daily needs and even his medications. Furthermore, through the MRP, Yusoph was able to register for his Persons with Disabilities (PWD) ID, which grants him access to additional social services specifically for his condition.
Yusoph’s leg has yet to recover fully. He continues to need medical attention. Nonetheless, he has come a long way and is now walking again, and walking towards rebuilding his life.
