LOOK: A tearful Eid al-Fitr for displaced Marawi residents | ABS-CBN

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LOOK: A tearful Eid al-Fitr for displaced Marawi residents

LOOK: A tearful Eid al-Fitr for displaced Marawi residents

ABS-CBN News

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Evacuees in Barangay Buru-un, Iligan City were in tears as they gathered to pray for Eid al-Fitr early Sunday morning. Rod Bolivar, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Tears flowed from the eyes of displaced Marawi residents as they gathered in prayer in different evacuation centers outside their hometown early Sunday morning for Eid al-Fitr.

The end of Ramadan is traditionally a festive event for Muslims, much like that of New Year's eve for most Filipinos--this was especially true for residents of Marawi, the busy commercial center of Lanao del Sur.

But in Barangay Buru-un, Iligan City, a mother cries as she prays for peace and the safety of her 4 children who were separated from her while they were fleeing Marawi.

A mom cries longing for her children separated from her when they were going out of their besieged homewotn. Rod Bolivar, ABS-CBN News

Fatima Lumabao said it's been almost a month since they left Marawi and she has yet to hear anything about her kids.

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"Ngayon Eid al-Fitr po ang naramdaman namin masakit, malungkot. Isang iglap lang nawala mga pamilya naming parang masakit. Parang hindi namin matanggap," she said.

After the morning prayer, Christian evacuees gave their Muslim neighbors flowers as they sought to comfort them.

Christian and Muslim evacuees show solidarity inside the evacuation center. Rod Bolivar, ABS-CBN News

"Bakwits" in Barangay Buru-uan were given fish and vegetables which they could cook in a simple feast inside the packed evacuation center.

There are over 3,000 displaced Marawi residents staying in 5 evacuation centers in Iligan City, while 45,604 stay are home-based evacuees, according to data from the local government.

Evacuees were given fishes and some vegetable they can cook for Eid al-Fitr. Rod Bolivar, ABS-CBN News

But there are more evacuees in the adjacent town of Saguiaran, where at least 3,600 families are scattered in different evacuation centers.

Sorah Angga, a bakwit in the said town, couldn't help but cry as she pondered the fate of their home. She said she couldn't stop herself from thinking about what happened to them.

"Nasunog ang bahay namin. Nasunog ang tindahan namin. Nasira ang lugar namin na Marawi," she said.

The family of Cadidia Maca-toon used to prepare good food and slaughter native chickens for Eid al-Fitr. But today they are eating sardines out of cans.

"Yung ulam sardinas. 'Yan lang naman ang palagi ditong ano. Kasi di ba ganitong may giyera. Wala kaming pambiling ulam. Kung ano'ng ibinigay sa 'min 'yun lang," said Macto-on.

Muslims uprooted from their hometown of Marawi City pray at the evacuation center in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur in celebration of Eid al-Fitr on Sunday. Fernando Sepe, Jr., ABS-CBN News

Despite this, Macato-on is still grateful for the help they receive. She hopes the conflict ends soon so they can go back to their normal lives. --with reports from Rod Bolivar and Kori Quintos, ABS-CBN News

MORE STORIES: MARAWI SIEGE

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