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Mindanao in Focus: Resilience in the Margins, Hope at the Center

In Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost island, communities grapple with the compounding effects of conflict, displacement, natural hazards, and climate-induced disasters.

This collection of photos, most recently exhibited at the 2025 European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels, brings into focus stories from across the region: children returning to school after floods, indigenous groups navigating displacement due to conflict, individuals obtaining birth certificates for the first time, and humanitarian aid reaching the most remote communities.

It primarily features moments from the EU-funded ACCESS Project but also showcases other EU-supported initiatives of ACCESS consortium partners, offering a glimpse into the collective, complementary efforts of humanitarians working on the ground, united in their goal of building resilience in the most at-risk, least-served communities.

At its heart, these images celebrate human resilience. Amidst overwhelming challenges, the strength, dignity, and hope of Mindanao’s communities shine through.

As viewers, we are called not only to bear witness to their struggles but also to recognize the necessity of continued support and solidarity with those enduring these crises.

A woman and her husband now rely on dried fish for income, after frequent floods made it impossible to farm their land. Cash assistance helped them buy food, water, and a new fishing net. © Ariel C. Lalisan/Oxfam Pilipinas
To support children affected by flooding and landslides in Davao de Oro, ACCESS distributes back-to-school kits, including raincoats, to help them continue their education. Hazards like flooding frequently disrupt classes and damage essential school items such as books, bags, and uniforms. © Action Against Hunger Philippines
A schoolgirl smiles as she lines up with her classmates during a distribution of school supplies in Agusan del Sur. After nearly two years of disrupted learning due to the pandemic, students were eager to return to school and reunite with friends. © Bernadette Uy/ACCORD
A Moro woman speaks to ACCESS staff as part of the project’s efforts to restore primary healthcare services in crisis-affected communities. ACCESS also offers mental health and psychosocial support through community sessions and individual counseling. © Abdul Alim Talusob/Action Against Hunger Philippines
Teenage girls smile with gratitude after receiving menstrual hygiene kits from ACCESS. © Save the Children Philippines
Women carrying their children and essential items walk through a village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan during a simulation exercise on anticipatory action for armed conflict in 2024. The exercise aimed to strengthen local preparedness and response strategies in the face of potential conflict. © Plan International Pilipinas
Early morning fog envelops a convoy of habal-habal (motorbikes modified with outriggers to carry more goods and people) transporting goods to a conflict-affected area in San Luis, Agusan del Sur. Remote communities, vulnerable to both natural and human-induced hazards, face significant challenges in receiving aid. Despite difficult access, humanitarian efforts strive to reach these last-mile communities where the need is greatest. © ACCORD-CARE Philippines 
An Indigenous woman in Mindanao poses with her newly acquired birth certificate. Indigenous peoples in geographically isolated areas often struggle to access government services due to the lack of essential documents like birth certificates. This gap also increases their vulnerability to abuse and violence, especially in conflict-affected areas where proper identification is crucial for protection. © ACCORD-CARE Philippines
In hard-to-reach areas like Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur, timely support can make all the difference. Through anticipatory action, ACCESS helped families prepare before conflict forced them to leave. © Yasraf Gayao/Action Against Hunger Philippines
Residents of Northern Kabuntalan help each other cross a flooded area. Heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon in July 2024 inundated eight villages in Mindanao, affecting over 3,000 families.
© Plan International Pilipinas
A resident affected by the armed conflict in Northern Kabuntalan receives a live chicken as food aid. Providing live rather than dressed poultry was more practical since most residents do not have refrigerators. © Humanity & Inclusion Philippines-Community Organizers Multiversity
Families in Kilangan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur prepare to evacuate ahead of expected conflict, as part of anticipatory action supported by the ACCESS project. © Yasraf Gayao/Action Against Hunger Philippines

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