Some internally displaced people in IDP camps in Mrauk-U Township in Arakan State are facing difficulties after the World Food Program (WFP) not only withheld aid from them but also removed them from the aid list on the grounds that they were not in the camps when the aid was provided, IDPs said.
Those removed from the WFP aid list include more than 80 families from My Oo Gaung camp in Mrauk-U Township and 35 families from Let Kauk Zay IDP camp.
The IDPs said WFP visited Myo Oo Gaung camp on 5 April and provided aid.
During the distribution of aid, more than 80 families who were either temporarily staying in our people’s shelters or working outside the camp were deprived of assistance, U Maung Maung Thein, in charge of the camp, told Narinjara.
“Shelters without people were taken off the list. Families with five members receive help from only three people. They said they don’t provide aid when there are no people in the house. It is understandable if they don’t provide support because there is no house, but it makes no sense at all not to provide support when there is a house. We couldn’t talk to them,” he said.
The Myo Oo Gaung refugee camp, established in 2019, houses about 800 people from more than 10 villages in Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw and Paletwa townships. Most of the IDPs struggle to survive on the money provided by the NGOs, so they often go outside to work.
“Only with money received from these organizations, they cannot feed their families. So they have to go out to work. Those who happen to be out of the camp do not receive WFP assistance,” added U Maung Maung Thein.
Similarly, 35 families in Let Kauk Zay IDP Camp in Mrauk-U Township did not receive WFP aid because they were not in the camp at the time of aid distribution and were also removed from the aid list, the camp’s person in charge told Narinjara.
“They should at least ask why these people are not there when they come to give aid. It is not a good idea to remove people from the aid list at your own discretion. If they are truly humanitarian organizations, they should not engage in behavior that violates human rights. We could not talk to them,’ he said.
He went on to say that the WFP officials did not provide advance notice of the visit to the camp.
A total of 936 people from six villages, including Pauk Taw Pyin, Wai Thar Li, Ywar Haung, Thayet Oke and Pan Myaung in Mrauk-U and Minbya townships, are living in the Let Kauk Zay IDP camp.
IDPs said those working in plantations outside the camp, those doing odd jobs outside the camp, and those studying outside will no longer receive WFP assistance.
WFP country representative for Myanmar Stephen Anderson told Narinjara News in a response to emails that the IDP families who have been removed from the aid list should contact his team.
“We are working to ensure that IDP families living full-time in the camps receive WFP assistance. If the families have been unfairly excluded, please contact us,” he said.
WFP is currently in the process of verifying the number of beneficiaries eligible for assistance in the IDP camps in Arakan State.
Stephen Anderson went on to say that the review aims to accurately record the number of IDPs living full-time in the camp and their needs.
“This will enable us to deliver assistance in an efficient and appropriate manner. The number of beneficiaries will be verified as part of the assistance activities in IDP camps,” he said.
WFP visited the two IDP camps in Mrauk-U Township in March and distributed relief items to the IDPs.
The assistance included 21,000 MMK and a bar of soap for one person, and two packages of nutritious food for each child under five.
WFP has been assisting IDPs in Arakan State since February after the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) suspended food aid.
Following the resumption of armed conflict in 2022, the Myanmar military regime had blocked the distribution of humanitarian aid to IDPs in Arakan State, leaving IDPs struggling with food shortages and health problems.
Following the informal ceasefire agreement between the military council and the Arakan Army in Arakan State on 26 November 2022, international organizations received permission to resume humanitarian assistance programs in December.
However, many IDPs continue to face difficulties due to inadequate assistance.
Sent from Narinjara.