Ten-year-old Rainifah just got home from school enrolment when she heard loud explosions and gunshots near their house in Marawi City. Her school, later on, became part of the battlefield.
“I started crying when I heard gunshots near our house,” Rainifah recalled her experience during the Marawi crisis.
Along with other relatives, she fled to Balo-i in Lanao Del Norte and sought temporary shelter at a friend’s house for safety.
“Most of the time, I think of my things for school, my education. I am so scared and angry at all the things that are happening to us,” shared Rainifah. Her family was not able to bring anything with them except for the clothes that they were wearing.
Rainifah (3rd from left) joins loom band activity for children evacuees.
Rainifah’s family is part of Operation Blessings’ feeding program for the Marawi crisis-displaced families in Lanao Del Norte.
She meets new friends every day in the child-friendly space in Maria Cristina Gym, Balo-i. This is where Operation Blessing conducts debriefing activities that help war-affected children release themselves from fear and anger.
“I pray that this war ends soon so that we can go back to our peaceful lives in Marawi City,” the Rainifah shared.
As of now, Operation Blessing is in the process of improving its child-friendly space in Lanao Del Norte. You too can be a blessing to the children who go through psychosocial activities to be relieved from pain and fear.
Here is how to give through the banks: http://www.staging2.obphil.com/home/give-through-banks/
You can also visit our Facebook page for updates on our efforts for the Marawi crisis-affected families at www.facebook.com/obphil, or call us at 477-78-06 for more information.
