34 | HUMANITY AMIDST CONFLICTS in the evacuation centers. There were manycivilians, domesticated animals like pigs and chickens, were including children, who died. Many babies died due burned. Their appliances, like TV sets, were also to dehydration and malnutrition andstill others died burned. of shock from mortar fires. Adults, especially elderly, suffered from various diseases. ISSUES: The HumanRights Violation Issues POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS Three major HRVissues need to be addressed: Mr. Olaya said that on the very day that “Bakwit” 1.) death ofcivilians; Power waslaunched, i.e. on July 23, 2009, the 2.) the burning of 1, 639 houses and properties; government declared Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO). On July 25, 2009,the and 3.) economic,social andcultural rightsissueslike health andlivelihood. MILFdeclared Suspension of Offensive Military Actions (SOMA). As an offshoot,in July of the same year, both parties came up with a joint statement PRIORITY NEEDS OF THE VICTIMS which highlighted protection of non-combatants Mr. Olaya listed someof the needsof the victims in armed conflicts. However, he said that those which should beprioritized, as follows: developments, the SOMO and SOMA,as well as the statements did not serve as guarantees for them to * To immediately conduct health surveys, including psycho-social survey especially return to their respectiveplaces. amongchildren; In August 6, 2009, collateral deaths and = To increase the frequencyoffood rations; destruction of properties took place. A mortar was = To immediately address the need of children fired at a school and there were 8 childrenkilled. for access to basic education and provide This triggered doubts on the authenticity or school supplies and school materials; and efficacy of the SOMO and the SOMA.Asa result, = To decrease the number of deaths among bakwits. there were thousands of families who were displaced. At present, they are still living in evacuation centers where 50% of these IDPs are CONCLUDING STATEMENT school children. In Mr.Olaya posited six questions on IHL,to wit: addition, it destroyed the educational activities of the schools that were struck by the mortar. Cited as exampleis, in Datu 1) How can weenforce IHLin the Philippines? Piang where 10,000 school children were severely 2) affected. Out of this 10,000 schoolchildren, only How can weseek justice over the burning of thousands of houses? 4,100 are in schools and the remaining 3,000 are 3) Howcan IHL be helpful to thevictims? not in school. 4) Can we file complaints on violations in Philippine Courts? THE RAPID NEEDSand DAMAGE ASSESSMENT (RNDA) The victims declared the damages caused by that armed conflict. Their houses and boats, as well as 5) How can IHL stop the AFP from doing indiscriminate attacks? 6) How can IHL stop the dehumanizing conditions?