'White Helmet' team a ray of hope for trapped Marawi residents | ABS-CBN
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'White Helmet' team a ray of hope for trapped Marawi residents
'White Helmet' team a ray of hope for trapped Marawi residents
ABS-CBN News
Published May 30, 2017 09:28 AM PHT
MANILA - As fighting between bandit groups and state troops in Marawi City raged Tuesday, a group of local officials, protected only by white helmets, continued risking life and limb to rescue fellow civilians trapped in their homes.
MANILA - As fighting between bandit groups and state troops in Marawi City raged Tuesday, a group of local officials, protected only by white helmets, continued risking life and limb to rescue fellow civilians trapped in their homes.
Most of the city's 200,000 residents have fled since militants torched several buildings and battled state forces, but 2,000 remain trapped in areas controlled by the militants, according to Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesman for the provincial crisis management committee.
Most of the city's 200,000 residents have fled since militants torched several buildings and battled state forces, but 2,000 remain trapped in areas controlled by the militants, according to Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesman for the provincial crisis management committee.
@chiarazambrano Bullet holes in houses all over Marawi City. This is on someone's bedroom window, where the bullet landed next on a full length mirror. pic.twitter.com/NUvacl2T6h
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 29, 2017
@chiarazambrano Bullet holes in houses all over Marawi City. This is on someone's bedroom window, where the bullet landed next on a full length mirror. pic.twitter.com/NUvacl2T6h
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 29, 2017
Amid a deluge of calls and text messages from residents pleading for rescue, the Marawi and Lanao del Sur governments formed a so-called "white helmet" team that has been entering conflict areas to extract non-combatants.
Amid a deluge of calls and text messages from residents pleading for rescue, the Marawi and Lanao del Sur governments formed a so-called "white helmet" team that has been entering conflict areas to extract non-combatants.
Rescue operations however were hampered by snipers of the Maute group and the continuous military airstrikes against the extremists.
Rescue operations however were hampered by snipers of the Maute group and the continuous military airstrikes against the extremists.
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The provincial crisis management committee has asked security forces to temporarily suspend airstrikes. They are also set to hold another rescue mission on Tuesday once they get clearance from security forces.
The provincial crisis management committee has asked security forces to temporarily suspend airstrikes. They are also set to hold another rescue mission on Tuesday once they get clearance from security forces.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development meanwhile is scheduled to deliver relief supplies to evacuation centers.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development meanwhile is scheduled to deliver relief supplies to evacuation centers.
The violence began last Tuesday when dozens of gunmen went on a rampage throughout Marawi in response to an attempt by security forces to arrest bandit leader Isnilon Hapilon.
The violence began last Tuesday when dozens of gunmen went on a rampage throughout Marawi in response to an attempt by security forces to arrest bandit leader Isnilon Hapilon.
ISIS flags still fly on the other side of the Mapandi Bridge, one of three bridges leading to the center of Marawi City. | @chiarazambrano pic.twitter.com/Wc9rfx3U3p
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 29, 2017
ISIS flags still fly on the other side of the Mapandi Bridge, one of three bridges leading to the center of Marawi City. | @chiarazambrano pic.twitter.com/Wc9rfx3U3p
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 29, 2017
The fighting, which has killed at least 100, has prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire Mindanao island under martial law.
The fighting, which has killed at least 100, has prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire Mindanao island under martial law.
The Philippine military said on Monday it was close to retaking Marawi. -- With Agence France-Presse; Edwin Sevidal and Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
The Philippine military said on Monday it was close to retaking Marawi. -- With Agence France-Presse; Edwin Sevidal and Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
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