Hunger: The Price of Rebellion

Author(s): VEEJAY VILLAFRANCA

Source: World Policy Journal, Vol. 30, No. 1 (SPRING 2013), pp. 50-61
Published by: Duke University Press
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43290396
Accessed: 11-09-2019 12:24 UTC

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 Members of a Philippine marine landing team prepare for deployment in the wake of
the beheading of 15 marines in southwestern Mindanao. The security and economic
stability of Mindanao always deteriorates in the wake of any armed clashes between
government forces and guerrillas fighting for Mindanao's independence.

day Mindanao will once again live up to its

name, the Promised Land.
Mindanao, Badjao this Mindanao,
island
this sinceBadjao
peopleisland people
Philippines-
since have atathave inhabited
inhabited
least least The
the the The casualties among the islands
16th century. Traveling in their hand-Moro rebels, who have been fighting for
built boats, they scattered as far as Ma-
independence for more than four decades,
laysia and northern Borneo. They remain
as well as government troops and civilians,
the largest Muslim group in the largely
have been mounting at an alarming pace.
Catholic nation of the Philippines. Beginning
For in 2000, breakaway groups,
which allied themselves with such
10 years, I have covered brutal conflicts
on this beautiful island, and since I began
notorious terror organizations as the Je-
maah Islamiyah and al-Qaida, launched
photographing here, I have hoped that one

Veejay Villafranca, a Manila-based photographer, began his career on the news

magazine Philippines Graphic and has exhibited across Europe and Asia.

5 2 WORLD POLICY JOURNAL

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 PORTFOLIO

effectiveattacks,
a series of kidnap-for-ransom in four West African
set- countries
(Burkinabattles
ting off a decade of bloody Faso, Mali, Mauritania,
with and Ni-
government forces. ger) includes proper nutritional feeding
and patient management.
Fighting between the government and Paul Andrew
the Moro rebels has created harsh condi-
Zambrano, nutrition officer for the Health
tions, leading to epidemics and hungerand Nutrition Division of UNICEF Phil-
among the Badjao. More than 20,000 ippines says Maguindanao is the perfect
children suffer from severe acute malnutri- place to implement such a program since
tion with complications including chronicmoderate to severe malnutrition afflicts a
cough, pneumonia, and diarrhea. When astartling 9.8 percent of children.
child fails to express emotions, such as cry- Today, the program has rescued more
ing or laughing, it is a clear indicator ofthan 60,000 children, most of whom
acute malnutrition. Their bodies become would have died of malnutrition caused by
violence of the Moro insurgency. "In times
weak as their organs cease to function prop-
erly. At this point, if not addressed imme-of emergency, there's displacement, then
diately, malnutrition is fatal. there's an initial problem in water and sani-
In Datu Odin Sinsuat on Mindanao, tation," says Zambrano. "If the displace-
mothers hold their stunted children while ment is prolonged, then you have a possible
waiting in line for their checkup in a small outbreak of diseases. And the malnutrition
makeshift facility. Those in critical con- problem is triggered by that situation. It
dition are brought to the pediatric ward, makes children more prone to diseases and
which has a small area for those suffering stunts physical and intellectual growth for
from acute malnutrition. a lifetime."

In 2009, with over half a million peo- In October 2012, the Philippine govern-
ple displaced, the United Nations Chil- ment and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
dren's Fund (UNICEF) along with Save signed a peace accord that will hopefully
the Children and Medicins Sans Frontiers pave the way for a lasting peace in Mindanao.
initiated the Community-based Manage- So far, the violence has decreased, but peace
ment of Acute Malnutrition to address agreements have been signed and broken in
the alarming number of children dyingthe past. Right now, its still the everyday,
due to complications brought about unsung
by efforts of the relief workers that are
acute malnutrition. The program, proven
keeping so many children alive. •

Volunteers leave the rural health center of

Datu Odin Sinsuat to conduct their routine

follow-up on patients who failed to attend

check-ups.

54 WORLD POLICY JOURNAL

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 PORTFOLIO

Many women, some of whom have been

displaced, injured, or blinded due to
armed clashes, have difficulty attending
health checkups.

58 WORLD POLICY JOURNAL

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 MALNUTRITION

Since war broke out in 2008 on Mindanao, a renewed

national and local effort has focused on upgrading
facilities and providing accessible health services to
pregnant women and mothers as well as measuring and
evaluating babies- a first step in monitoring nutrition.

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