IDP camps in Ponnagyun Township in Arakan State are in urgent need of shelters as it is raining, the IDPs said.
Built in 2019, the Myatlay IDP camp houses over 700 populations and over 130 households from Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun and Maungdaw Townships, said U Aung Myint, an official of Myatlay IDP camp.
“Now the rainy season has set in. It is not convenient to cook food in the morning when it rains. We can’t sleep well when it rains at night. We have to move to some houses. Heavy rains and strong winds blow away tarpaulin roofs. We have not received any aid yet. We have no money to buy food. We can’t afford to buy materials for shelters,” said U Aung Myint.
Over the recent days, heavy rains and strong winds blew away the roofs covered with tarpaulins and straws, said Ma Mya Than Aye, an official of Pannilar IDP camp.
“We are not convenient when it rains. All water runs off the roof when it rains. The ground is filled with rain water. We have to move to another safe place when it rains at night. The situation is worse as we have children and elderly. We can’t afford to buy shelter materials when we are grappling with their daily survival,” said Ma Mya Than Aye.
In the third week of May, Pannilar IDP camp was provided with arounds 6000 tarpaulin sheets. Only five households received them, she continued.
“Only five houses received tarpaulin sheets as the tarpaulin sheets they brought were not sufficient for all of the IDPs. The IDPs are in need of shelters. We would like to urge the public to donate shelters,” said Ma Mya Than Aye.
A total of 307 individuals from 85 households from Ywahaung, Myothit and Sanpya wards in Ponnagyun Township are taking shelter at Pannilar IDP camp built in November 2023.
The IDPs are taking shelter in temporary tents in schools, monasteries and roadsides in Myatlay, Pannilar, Thayetcho, Aungphyupyin, Kyangin and Ganamtaung villages in Ponnagyun Township.
Sent by Narinjara