A bridge to peace, freedom: The bridge in Pawak in Saguiaran town is mute witness to thousands making the long, difficult journey out of Marawi. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYON
MARAWI/ILIGAN CITY – It is Day 6 of the siege of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur’s jewel turned upside down by marauding homegrown terrorists seeking full recognition from ISIS.
Authorities say 90 percent of the city’s 200,000 population have fled since some 200 Maute Group members took over a hospital, torched government facilities and a school, killed and injured security forces, and planted black flags that resembled those used by groups elsewhere courting ISIS recognition and funding.
On the first night of the siege on May 23, President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao, and government troops have continued the task of flushing out the terrorists who have resorted to guerrilla-type operations – hiding in abandoned homes, targeting soldiers with sniper fire, and taking civilian hostages.
This, as a humanitarian crisis has unfolded with the evacuation of most of Marawi’s residents – to nearby Iligan City and elsewhere. On all types of vehicles – with help from the Red Cross – and, many by foot, they continue to file out each day, bringing along whatever their arms, already weakened by lack of food and water, can carry.
Photos below by InterAksyon’s Erwin Mascarinas tell the story:
A woman walking alongside a convoy of trucks carrying evacuees from Marawi City wraps her baby to protect her from the heat of the sun. She has walked several kilometers to safety, one among tens of thousands fleeing violence in the city besieged by Maute Group terrorists. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONA man opens his bag as vehicles bound for Marawi City and nearby townsa are searched at the bridge in Pawak at the town of Saguiaran. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONWomen and children carrying their belongings walk several kilometers toward the checkpoint after leaving their homes in Marawi City. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONVehicles filled with evacuees pass by an almost empty street corner near the Mindanao State University (MSU) grounds as they leave their homes. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONResidents sheltered at the Provincial Capitol compound move toward the International Red Cross vehicle to be transported out of Marawi city. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONVehicles leaving Marawi City are trapped in traffic while on queue at a checkpoint along the bridge in Pawak at the town of Saguiaran. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONA Maranao family looks out the window of a vehicle as they leave Marawi City. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONAn old woman waits at the Provincial Capitol compound for her turn to take the ride out of Marawi City with her family. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONA vehicle filled with evacuees passes by university students and workers waiting for vehicles to pick them up inside the Mindanao State University campus. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYONJampacked vehicles such as this are a common sight daily as the flood of humanity seeking safety fills the roads out of Marawi. ERWIN MASCARINAS, INTERAKSYON