July 18th, 2022
The Arakan State military council has placed a travel restriction on the staff of the NGOs and the INGOs in Maungdaw in northern Arakan State, U Hla Thein, Spokesperson of the Arakan State military council told the DMG.
“The staff from the NGOs and the INGOs needs to ask for travel permission from the Minister for Security and Border Affairs. The travel restriction is linked to regional security. Only the Ministry of Security and Border Affairs will know it in detail,” U Hla Thein says.
“As far as I know, the UNICEF, the UNOCHA and the WFP need to submit the travel permission. The ministry will allow them to go to the permitted areas. The ministry will not take responsibility for their security if they go to the restricted areas,” he adds.
Although the DMG contacted Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Col Kyaw Thura, he was not available for comment.
As from July 16th, the military has imposed a temporary travel ban on those from local and foreign organizations working for regional development and humanitarian assistance in Arakan State.
A staff from the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) who declined to be named said: “The Ministry of Security and Border Affairs has placed a travel ban due to the security concern in northern Maungdaw. Today we have to cancel our trip. We don’t know when the organizations will be allowed to travel.
The WFP is providing aid to the villages in northern Maungdaw which experienced the conflict in 2017, a local from Mingalar Nyunt village in Maungdaw Township.
“The WFP is providing food rations to our village once a month. The main assistance provided by the WFP is rice, edible oil and bean. Due to the travel ban on these organizations, locals may face livelihood difficulties. Now there are less employment opportunities,” he adds.
Although the Myanmar army and the Arakan Army (AA) have made a ceasefire in Arakan State, there are frequent clashes.
In late June, the AA arrested more than 12 people linked to the military council. In turn, the Myanmar army arrested at least 50 locals. Due to it, tension continues to mount between the Myanmar army and the AA.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)