Over 650 refugees from upper Thinponetan, Ghwayhtee and Pharkywal IDP camps on the upstream of Tawphyarchaung in Ponnagyun Township of Arakan State are facing livelihood difficulties as they no longer receive aid.
These IDPs are from Thabyuchaung, Kyauksayaung, Maunghnama, Phetwonchaung, Nattharaway and Awontang villages, who early fled due to fighting between the military council and the Arakan Army (AA) in December, 2018.
The IDPs have to solve their livelihood difficulties by cutting woods and bamboos in the forests. Currently, they face more difficulties due to a decline in the number of wood buyers and rising commodity prices. Traders no longer come to buy wood as Thingyan (water festival) is drawing near,” said U Kyaw Thar Maung, in-charge of Pharkywal IDP camp.
Now the price of a bag of rice is MMK-70,000 in Tawphyarchaung. Currently, the major need for the IDPs is rice. They no longer receive aid from international organizations, the government and the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), according to the IDPs.
“In the past, we could solve our problem by cutting firewood on the mountain as the WFP provided rice. Our livelihood is very difficult as the WFP no longer provides aid. We just get MMK-2,500 by selling 100 sticks of firewood. The price of rice is MMK-16,000 per basket. We cannot afford to buy it. We are very difficult,” U Sein Maung, in-charge of Khwayhtee IDP camp said.
In late March, the Ponnagyun Township Development Youth Organization (PDYO) provided these IDP camps with some personal goods.
Ko Thein Wunna, Chair of the PDYO said: “The IDPs are in big trouble. Foodstuff prices are different as the region is located in the remote area. They may face more difficulties as the Thingyan period is drawing near. Their livelihood is very difficult. If possible, the INGOs, and CSOs are requested to provide aid for them.”
Although the Development Media Group (DMG) asked U Hla Thein, Spokesperson of the Arakan State Administration Council about the aid program for the IDPs in remote Tawphyarchaung area, no reply was received.
Based on the humanitarian point of view, the Arakan Army (AA) has made a temporary ceasefire with the army. During over four months of the ceasefire, the refugees from the IDP camps returned home under the arrangement of the military council.
However, the IDPs from Tawphyarchaung region are unable to return home as they have no houses left and are in danger of landmines.
According to the statement released by the UNOCHA till 11 January, 2023, nearly 90,000 locals who were displaced by fighting in Arakan State and Paletwa Township have not returned home.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)