Filipino Muslims fleeing Islamic State-linked militants observe Ramadan in evacuation centres

FILIPINO Muslims in Marawi held Ramadan prayers in a mosque near an evacuation centre on Friday (June 2), as fighting between government troops and Islamic State-linked militants entered its eleventh day.

The conflict between the Maute Islamist militants and soldiers for control of the southern city of Marawi has displaced tens of thousands of Muslims and has seen a death toll reaching near 180 since May 23.

Despite daily airstrikes and gun battles in Marawi, Muslims taking shelter in evacuation centres around the city still practise their faith, where they are expected to refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours during the month of Ramadan.

Among the evacuees observing Ramadan on Friday (June 2) was Rexson Tamano, a vegetable farmer who was forced to walk three kilometers (1.86 miles) to the evacuation centre as the fighting grew closer and closer to his village. Tamano spoke about the need for money to buy food to break his fast.

Islam is the second most popular religion in the predominantly Catholic Philippines, with over five percent of its 103 million population practising the Muslim faith.