Officials warn of disease outbreaks

Islamist militants occupying a southern Philippine city have forced nearly 4,00,000 people in the wider area to flee their homes, officials said on Saturday, while warning of disease outbreaks and psychological trauma among refugees.

The city of Marawi, considered the Muslim capital of the largely Catholic Philippines, has been reduced to a ghost town after self-styled followers of the Islamic State movement launched an assault on the city on May 23. For over a month, the government has deployed jet fighters, attack helicopters and armoured vehicles to crush the militants who are members of the so-called Maute group.

The fighting has left over 400 people dead, while the Maute fighters still control parts of the city, using snipers and IEDs to slow the military’s advance.

Liza Mazo, the regional civil defence director, said it was not just the city’s residents leaving the area but also people living in the surrounding communities.

Over 70,380 people have been housed in 79 government-run evacuation centres.