Aug. 29--AN intensified humanitarian aid from various foreign governments is set to arrive next week in Mindanao's conflict areas, an official said Thursday.

Janet Lopoz, Executive Director of Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco), said the international community has expressed its ardent desire to help the victims of the fighting between the government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The bloody unrest has already displaced thousands of families and killed hundreds from both camps.

"We have called for coordinated support for them during the Medco meeting and they have agreed to provide additional assistance to those already working on the ground," Lopoz said, adding that the said meeting also identified specific organizations that can with rehabilitation operations as well.

The United Nations' World Food Program, United States AID, OXFAM of Great Britain, Hong Kong, and Novib, United Nations Children Fund and the Japanese Embassy are just some of the foreign-run organizations that are involved in facilitating economic development projects in Mindanao in the past years. The Medco is just waiting for the reports from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council needed to come up with an organized scheme on channeling the goods to the affected areas, namely North Cotabato, Saranggani, Maguindanao, Basilan, and Lanao del Norte, among others.

The expected humanitarian aid will include food items, medical facilities and supplies, food and psychosocial healing seminars for the affected families.

The fighting between the authorities and the rebels was sparked by the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order on the signing of the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain. The said pact drew flak from local government officials namely Vice Governor Manny Pinol of North Cotabato and Mayor Celso Lobragat of Zamboanga City whose constituents will be affected by the deal.

The MILF first occupied the provinces of Lanao del Norte on August 18, harassing the communities and looting a drug store and a pawnshop. School bombings and burning of properties and hostage taking followed, aside from the planted landmines that also caused damages.

"We also have to assess the political landscape so that we can approximate the amount of the needed international help," Lopoz continued.

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