Jolo

Jolo is an island in the southwest Philippines. It is located in the Sulu Archipelago, between Mindanao and Borneo, and has a population of approximately 300,000 people. Jolo is also the name of the city on the island which serves as the capital of the Sulu province. About a third of the island's population live in the city of Jolo.

Fighting on the island intensified in February 2005 when between 4,000 and 5,000 Philippine troops clashed with around 800 Islamist militants from the Abu Sayyaf group, along with followers of Nur Misuari . Up to 12,000 people were thought to have fled the fighting.