Melita Amando, a 51-year-old Barangay Health Worker (BHW) from Barangay Lamud, South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur, shares the struggles of her life as a “bakwit.” Her family, like many others, has been forced to flee from their home many times because of the ongoing armed conflict.

“Sobrang hirap maging bakwit, ang tulugan mo ay lupa (It’s hard to be an evacuee; you sleep on the ground),” she says, describing how they go to rest on bare ground, with only torn tarpaulins to protect them.  

The repeated displacement has taken a huge toll on their lives. They can’t farm so they have no steady income, and their children’s schooling has been interrupted. Many children can’t go to school because their parents can barely afford food, let alone other needs.  

One particular displacement was especially hard. Gunfire hit the house of Melita and her family, forcing them to run for their lives. As they left in a rush, they were not able to take anything with them.  The situation affected her children’s health, with stomach aches becoming common because of the poor quality of food and water. Even as a health worker, Melita couldn’t fully protect her family from the effects of their constant moving.  

Life in the evacuation center was no better. Their shelters couldn’t keep out the rain, and the elderly, sleeping on the ground, got sick more often. Basic supplies like food, soap, and medicine were hard to find. Living so close to strangers, women and girls felt unsafe, especially since there were no separate sleeping areas or restrooms for women and men.  

Melita shares the difficulties of living in such an environment. “Iyong naka-ihi na ako sa gilid dahil sa putukan, hindi na namin naiisip na masasaktan kami (I had to urinate by the side of the shelter because of the gunfire; we don’t even think about getting hurt anymore),” she recalls.   

During the displacement, the only thing Melita could do was gather whatever medicines were available at the center, but it was still not enough to meet the needs of everyone in their barangay. She continues to serve as a Barangay Health Worker (BHW) and is actively involved in the Civil society, women and youth promoting culture of peace in Mindanao, Philippines (BRIDGE) Project activities, providing much-needed assistance to her community.  

Her biggest wish is for proper evacuation centers that provide safety for everyone, especially women and children. She also hopes for livelihood programs to help them get back on their feet.  

“Sana matulungan kami. Dahil sa pagbabakwit, hindi kami makatanim dahil sa palaging kaguluhan. Sana ay mayroong livelihood para sa amin,” she says. (I hope we will receive help. Due to evacuation caused by frequent conflicts, we couldn’t plant [crops]. I wish we would be given livelihood.) She emphasizes that with livelihood, along with other services such as healthcare and safe housing, families such as hers could rebuild their lives.  

On this Human Rights Day, we are reminded of every individual’s fundamental right to live a life of peace, stability, and dignity. Melita’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the daily struggles faced by countless families who are displaced from their homes, living in uncertainty and seeking safety. Despite the hardships, they continue to hold onto the hope of finding a place where they can rebuild their lives, free from fear and violence. Their resilience underscores the universal need for peace and stability and the importance of safeguarding human rights for all.