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Island Under Siege

In December Medicorps was invited by the mayor of Zamboanga to visit the island of Jolo in the Sulu Sea in Mindanao. Since the infamous Sipadan hostage-taking crisis more than 100,000 people have been displaced in an all-out war to eradicate the Abu Sayav terrorist group.

Dr. Gunter Hintz and John Feil from Medicorps were the first foreigners allowed on the island in several months. Under the protection of the Philippine Army they visited the Talipao evacuation camp and both the civilian and military hospitals.

In the crowded wards of Jolo hospital they witnessed the ravages of war. Civilian casualties of recent clashes joined the victims of malaria and other tropical diseases. An outbreak of measles put many helpless children on the brink of death, further complicated by the ubiquitous diarrhea due to unsanitary drinking water. The shelves of the pharmacy were stocked with only the most rudimentary medications, some of them deemed dangerous in the industrialized world. As usual in all wars women and children as well as the elderly seemed to carry the heaviest burden of suffering.

In the hamlet of Talipao the school had been converted to an evacuation camp. We encountered predominantly women and children with a notable absence of adult men. They were probably hiding in the mountains and jungles during daytime. Fortunately we did not see any signs of malnourishment or epidemics, but how long will these people stay healthy under these crowded and stressful conditions? At least the presence of Medicorps seemed bring some cheer to the faces of the refugees, a sign, that the outside world cares.

The military command would not allow Medicorps to send a medical team to the island of Jolo because of safety concerns. But we would like to return as soon as possible to help these unfortunate people in their ravaged tropical paradise.

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