The Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly not only distributed food to storm-affected Muslim villages in Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung and Buthidaung Townships in northern Arakan State, but also helped people rebuild their homes.
According to a statement from the Cyclone Mocha Emergency Rescue and Rehabilitation Committee for Arakan (Cyclone Mocha ERRCA), the ULA /AA has reached the areas most affected by the cyclone and delivered food, including rice.
“We are providing food to the storm-affected people in Arakan, regardless of race or religion. Other international and civil society groups have also already reached some villages. We have also helped rebuild houses of the Muslim population. We are also providing them with medical care,” said a Cyclone Mocha ERRCA official.
After Cyclone Mocha, the Cyclone Mocha Emergency Rescue and Rehabilitation Committee for Arakan (ERRCA) was established to carry out emergency relief activities for the storm-affected population, provide timely emergency food and shelter, and conduct health care and general activities, with AA Deputy military chief Dr. Nyo Twan Aung serves as chairman.
The armed ethnic organization helped repair houses damaged by the storm in Muslim villages such as Parein, Paung Toke, Thayet Cho, Yein The, Zee Zar, Nagar Kway, Amrauk Taung, Butalone and Kine Taw, village chiefs said.
“ULA /AA has prioritized building houses for the poorest. However, we have yet to receive any food. In our village, 14 houses were completely destroyed. They built three of them for the very poor,” said U Maung Kyaw Hla, a resident of Thayet Cho village.
“They built five houses for the very poor. But we haven’t received any food yet. The military council has distributed three bags of rice. We thank (AA) for building houses for the poor,” said U Maung Aye Thar, a person in charge of Yein The village.
Residents reported that the ULA /AA has also helped build houses in five Muslim villages, including Pauktaw Palaung, Goke Pi Htaunt and Hsin U Chaing villages in Kyauktaw Township, while it has also provided food aid to other Muslim villages such as Zayditaung, Wet Ma Kya and Chut Pyin in Buthidaung Township.
A woman from Wet Ma Kya village said, “They distributed a basket of rice to each family in our village. This is not enough, but it helps us in this time of need. They also distributed tarpaulins and helped rebuild the damaged houses.”
Cyclone Mocha ERRCA said they have received donations from Arakan communities at home and abroad, as well as from other local and international organizations.
However, locals said some villages had not been reached by storm relief groups, including the military council and AA.
Sent by DMG.