Ruth Jenkins, 19, was two months into her Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) exchange programme when she was evacuated from Iligan on the southern island of Mindanao last week.

The former Carnforth High and Lancaster Girls' Grammar School pupil, from Ashfield Avenue, has been caught up in a feud over the expansion of an existing Muslim autonomous zone.

Ruth said: "Unfortunately we have had to evacuate our host
community of Iligan because of actions by a rebel group called the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"On August 17 the MILF planted four bombs in the city – only two detonated and only three people were injured.

"Early the next day we received a call to pack up necessities and to wait for our project supervisor to collect us from our host homes so we could be evacuated.

"The MILF had attacked the areas of Kaulswagen and Kolabugan to the south of the city and gained control of the road just 15 minutes from where I was living.

"A total of 44,000 people have been displaced and 24 civilians have been killed in the conflict at the last count.

"We are safe now but I know people at home will be worrying about me. I want to reassure them I am safe and well away from the conflict."

The largely unreported conflict has resurfaced after the Philippine government pulled out of a controversial autonomy deal with Muslim separatist rebels in the south.

Ruth's mum Jo Guiver said: "Ruth phoned up and said: 'Before you see the news, I'm okay'.

"The next day she phoned back saying it was getting a bit scary as the electricity had gone off and most of the Muslim families from the neighbourhood had gone.

"She's not been allowed to say where they are in case it puts them at risk, but I know she's safe now.

"I trust the VSO completely and they acted very quickly.

"Her team, who are due to return home in two weeks, now hope to be able to help get supplies to the evacuation centres in Iligan and raise awareness of the conflict in the west."