Marawi 'double' evacuees hit by storm after war

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Amer, 23, lives in an evacuation camp just a few kilometers outside of Marawi City. His hometown was a war zone for more than five months, when nearly 1,500 people including soldiers, military officials and civilians were killed.

The day the war started, Amer fled his hometown with his family and stayed at a temporary shelter. He was placed there for several months until a few days ago when storm Tembin swept through Southern Philippines.

The picture shows remnants of a once thriving city remains, three months after the war with the ISIL ended. /CGTN Photo

Marawi City was one of the places that were destroyed in the storm. Although the destruction is minor compared to other provinces and towns, the impact is major for people like Amer, who has already lost his home previously.

"I feel sad. I had to evacuate from the war and now this disaster happened and I have to evacuate again," said Amer while carrying his 3-year-old son.

Thousands of buildings were destroyed including several mosques. /CGTN Photo

The tent on which he lived on for months perished as strong winds and heavy rainfall fell upon the city last week. Now, the evacuation camp is littered with scattered leaves, heavy logs and fallen tree branches.

Storm Tembin, or Vinta as it is locally known, hit Northern Mindanao last Friday, just a few days before Christmas. The storm triggered deadly flash floods and landslides that killed more than 240 people and left hundreds missing, still buried under the massive rubble. Authorities are still conducting search and rescue operations daily to find those who are still missing.

What was once a housing complex has been reduced to dust and rubble. /CGTN Photo

There are many evacuees like Amer. Those from Marawi City are not able to return back to their homes although the war with the ISIL finally ended. What was once a city thriving with life now shows no signs of life at all. Houses and buildings have been burned. What was once a busy market is now grey, dull and reduced to dust.

Rizal Park, named after The Philippines' national hero, was a bustling market once upon a time. Now it is grey, dull and burned to the ground. /CGTN Photo

Today, Marawi City shows no signs of hope. And for Amer and his family, the future is still uncertain. They have been evacuated more than once for two different tragedies, making the search for a constant home all the more difficult.

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