August 29th, 2022
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Arakan State have called on the authorities to allow local and foreign organizations to freely provide humanitarian assistance when they are facing many difficulties such as a drop in aid, unemployment and the skyrocketing commodity prices.
“The major need is rice. We face difficulty as we don’t get rice. I call on the authorities to allow international and local organizations to freely help the IDPs as the military council is unable to regularly provide aid for the IDPs,” said U Maung Aye Kyaw from Budawmaw IDP camp in Sittwe.
It has been three months since the Arakan State Disaster Management Department did not provide rice rations to the IDPs. As the IDPs have to rely only on a monthly cash assistance of Ks-17,000 per head donated by the World Food Programme (WFP), they are in need of food rations, the IDPs said.
The Nippon Foundation of Japan has donated over 55,000 rice bags for the IDPs in MrukU, Kyauktaw, Buthidaung, Ann, Minbya, Myebon, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung and Pauktaw Townships in Arakan State. Due to the military council’s restriction, the distribution of rice bags in some Townships face a delay.
“Due to the military council’s restrictions on the delivery of aid make the IDPs more difficult at a time when the commodity prices are skyrocketing. Health and the education of our children face difficulty. The government (military council) should provide aid to the IDPs on the humanitarian ground instead of the restrictions of the aid by the philanthropic organizations,” U Saw Thein from the Railways Station IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township said.
On August 20th, the police banned Sittwe-based Myittar Yaung Chi Foundation Philanthropic Organization from collecting money for the IDPs displaced by fighting between the military council and the Arakan Army (AA).
The police forced the organization to sign the pledge not to collect money without permission.
“Although social organizations may face more challenges as the military council has tightened travel bans in Arakan State. But we will provide aid as much as we can,” said U Ann Thar Gyi, chair of Thingaha Kanlet Rakhita Organization.
The delivery of rations to the IDPs faces a delay as the military has blocked the routes. Donors and philosophers may face more challenges. The military council will block all routes. We need to use every possible means to overcome it, he said.
Since August this year, the number of the IDPs displaced by intense fighting between the AA and the Myanmar army, in Rathedaung, Maungdaw and Paletwa Townships has increased.
Among the IDPs are pregnant women, infants, children and women. The total number of the IDPs has reached 1,622-744 males and 878 females.
There are a total of 457 households, according to the statement released by the United League of Arakan (ULA) on August 23rd.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)