01:26Philippines: 'Suicide squad' rescue workers describe work in IS-besieged Marawi *EXCLUSIVE*
A team of men dubbed the 'suicide squad' are undertaking the risky mission to rescue citizens trapped in Marawi as fighting between soldiers and members of the Islamist Maute group continue. Footage shot on Tuesday showed the rescue workers and evacuated citizens in the provincial capital.
Rescue worker Saripada Pacasum said that the job was "very risky", adding "we are also scared that we might not make it." A recently evacuated citizen Mela Gumama stated that her cohort was under fire whilst trying to flee: "They shot at us when we were coming here" she said.
Rescue workers have reportedly helped evacuate over 500 people in the last two weeks alone, often coming under fire from the Islamist Maute group themselves. A ceasefire which lasted for four hours before gunfire broke out on Sunday allowed some 134 residents to be evacuated. Around 2000 residents remain trapped.
Over 180 people have died after the Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL), stormed the city on May 23. Most of the 200,000 population have fled.
President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the area for a period of 60 days.
01:26A team of men dubbed the 'suicide squad' are undertaking the risky mission to rescue citizens trapped in Marawi as fighting between soldiers and members of the Islamist Maute group continue. Footage shot on Tuesday showed the rescue workers and evacuated citizens in the provincial capital.
Rescue worker Saripada Pacasum said that the job was "very risky", adding "we are also scared that we might not make it." A recently evacuated citizen Mela Gumama stated that her cohort was under fire whilst trying to flee: "They shot at us when we were coming here" she said.
Rescue workers have reportedly helped evacuate over 500 people in the last two weeks alone, often coming under fire from the Islamist Maute group themselves. A ceasefire which lasted for four hours before gunfire broke out on Sunday allowed some 134 residents to be evacuated. Around 2000 residents remain trapped.
Over 180 people have died after the Maute group, which has pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL), stormed the city on May 23. Most of the 200,000 population have fled.
President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in the area for a period of 60 days.