Fighting in southern Philippines displaces thousands
Shirley Escalante
Last Updated:
Almost 30,000 people have been displaced by military air raids on camps of the rebel Moro-Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and skirmishes between the two sides in the southern Philippines.
Government aid workers have begun mobilising personnel and supplies to meet the growing number of displaced people in the area.
The evacuees come mostly from five villages in Maguindanao province on the southwestern region of Mindanao island.
They have expressed fears of being caught in the fighting between Philippine security forces and MILF rebels.
The military says it has overtaken two rebel camps since its assaults began last week.
Army commanders say thirty-five rebels have been killed in the bombardment and skirmishes, but rebel leaders say only nine of their members were killed.
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