MSF teams near Iligan City (Mindanao, Philipines) are setting up counselling support for people displaced by the heavy combat between the military and two pro- IS groups (Abu Sayyaf and the Maute group).

The fighting is taking place in Marawi, a city of more than 200,000 people, after militants attacked and took control of parts of the town on 23 May. The Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has declared Martial Law across the entire island of Mindanao, where Marawi is located.

As Philippines' forces try to regain total control of Marawi, more than six weeks of fighting have caused most of the city's population to flee to surrounding towns and villages.

Although no-one except the military (and ICRC to a certain extent) can access Marawi for now, an MSF OCP team has been in Iligan City, 30kms north of Marawi, for the past three weeks assessing the situation.

Approximately 340,000 people have been displaced from the fighting, many of whom fled toward Iligan City.