Displaced people from Thandwe Township in southern Arakan State are relocating to northern areas of the region, including Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, and Rathedaung Townships, due to widespread challenges such as scarce job opportunities and severe livelihood challenges, according to reports.
Currently, displaced people from Thandwe Township, unable to cope with economic hardships, are moving to northern Arakan townships where they have relatives. According to reports, hundreds of people are making this migration.
A woman from the Zedi Pyin IDP camp in Rathedaung Township said: “Due to livelihood struggles, people from Thandwe are arriving here. This camp has many displaced people from Sittwe. For the newcomers, they arrive with no food or resources, so we build shelters for them, collect rice, and help however we can.”
The Arakha Army (AA) seized control of Thandaw Township in September 2024. However, with the military junta’s naval vessels still present offshore, the fishery—Thandwe residents’ primary livelihood—has not yet resumed, according to reports.
Moreover, other job opportunities are scarce, leading to worsening living conditions day by day, according to Thandwe locals.
Similarly, local civil society organizations assisting displaced people are struggling to provide adequate support due to a lack of donors, resulting in frequent rice and food shortages for the displaced, according to reports.
“In Thandwe, making a living was tough. We went hungry for days. That’s why we moved here. For now, I’m earning some income by selling at a market stall. It’s not great, but it’s not as bad as it was in Thandwe,” said a woman from Ngapali, now taking shelter in a village in Kyauktaw Township.
While some locals have started returning to Thandwe town, most Ngapali residents have not been able to go back.
Over 20,000 displaced people from Thandwe Township are still facing difficulties returning home, according to local accounts.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)