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Manila: Philippine troops have restricted aid workers from visiting conflict zones in the south to distribute relief supplies to nearly 450,000 displaced people, the military and aid workers said on Monday.
Military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ernesto Torres said the army had imposed some restrictions to ensure the safety of aid workers bringing in food and other supplies to temporary shelters.
"There's no food blockade," Torres said, adding some areas on the southern island of Mindanao had become inaccessible because of recent fighting between the army and renegades from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Some international and non-government organisations involved in the relief operations said the restrictions may worsen the humanitarian crisis in conflict-affected areas.
Diverted
"We've not been officially informed about these changes in the delivery of relief goods, but we're concerned," said a UN aid worker. "We're accountable for the goods that we distribute and we're worried that these could be diverted somewhere else."
Last week, soldiers stopped a UN convoy from distributing food to displaced people in Kauswagan town, asking aid workers to coordinate their activities with local disaster agencies. Torres said there had been a lull in fighting during the past 24 hours as rogue members of the MILF had retreated deep into the forested mountains of Mindanao.
"It's been relatively peaceful but we've not stopped our clearing operations," he said, adding nearly 20 rebel bases had been seized since August 18, when fighting erupted.
Arroyo order
President Gloria Arroyo ordered military commanders to coordinate with religious leaders to allow Muslims in the trouble-torn south observe the Ramadan fast despite continued search for renegade rebel leaders in the southern Philippines, the chief of staff said.
"Punitive actions against MILF rebel Commander Ameril Umbra Kato and Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo will continue even during the Ramadan. Commanders on the ground were ordered to balance the mission and the (respecting of) the sensitivities in connection with Ramadan, said Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Alexander Yano.
"The president also called for the provision of religious services for Muslims in 132 evacuation centres so that the observance of Ramadan by Muslims will not be hampered there," said Yano.
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