Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ann Township, Arakan State, are facing severe livelihood challenges and have been reduced to eating rice porridge due to a lack of assistance, according to people helping the IDPs.
Although the Arakan Army (AA) has taken Ann Township under its control, the displaced people are still unable to return home due to dangers from junta airstrikes, landmines, and unexploded ordnance.
As their displacement continues, IDPs are severely affected by job scarcity and high commodity prices. Some have been forced to survive on rice porridge as they receive no aid from international agencies or other civil society organizations.
“Among the IDPs, those who rely on daily wage work and cannot find work are in a situation where they have to eat rice porridge,” said a person assisting the IDPs.
Thousands of displaced people from villages such as Ywar Thar Yar, Mee Laung Chaung, Auk Ywar, Sin Toe, Kyar Mauk, Daing Gyi, and Kyin Gone are taking refuge in monasteries and other locations near the town deemed safe.
Similarly, IDPs are also staying in the areas along Ann Creek, Kwin Creek, and Dar Let Creek. Locals say that current IDP shelters are in remote areas with difficult access, resulting in high prices for basic commodities.
“If a bag of rice costs 70,000 kyats to buy, it becomes at least 150,000 kyats with transportation costs. That’s why IDPs without employment or assistance are facing even more difficulties,” said a local man from Ann Township.
Furthermore, IDPs are in need of medicine, healthcare services, and sanitary pads for women.
Among them, over 2,000 IDPs from Ann Township are experiencing both health and livelihood crises due to very limited humanitarian assistance.
“Along with health deficiencies, they face many difficulties with basic survival needs. When donors can’t reach them, they have to manage as best they can. Some are even living in temporary shelters in the mountains, struggling to get by—we’ve seen many such cases,” said Ko Naing Naing Zaw, head of the Lay Waddy Patriotic Youth Charity Association in Ann Township.
The AA captured the entire Ann Township on 20 December 2024, and the IDPs are eager to return to their homes.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)