Second round of coronavirus aid coming for IDPs, irregular income households

By Win Nyunt 19 May 2020

Win Nyunt | DMG
19 May, Sittwe

The Myanmar government is arranging to provide a second round of financial aid for IDPs and other under-resourced households during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the President’s Office.

At a news conference on May 16, President’s Office spokesperson U Zaw Htay said the government was in talks with the General Administration Department to disburse the aid money via online payment services such as Wave Money and KBZPay.

“There are nearly 4 million households in the list for distribution of five kinds of food previously,” U Zaw Htay said, referring to a previous government assistance program offered to the same vulnerable populations last month. “We are now compiling the list more accurately than before based on the previous list.”

A household without regular income will be provided from K30,000 (US$21) to K40,000, he said.

Arakanese IDPs welcomed the government’s plan to provide additional financial assistance as COVID-19 continues to disrupt lives and livelihoods in Myanmar.

“The government’s second aid would help people,” said U Wai Hla Aung, manager of the Tin Nyo IDP camp. “People cannot go outside to do business at the moment due to COVID-19. It will be good for people if the government provides financial aid.”

U Zaw Htay said the government spent nearly K51 billion for about 4 million households across Myanmar when it provided basic foodstuffs for people without regular income over the Thingyan holiday last month.

Since some people eligible for the food assistance in April reported not receiving it, the government this time will ask people to fill in their name and job on forms to be collected for the government’s master list, U Zaw Htay said.

The amount of money to be spent on a second aid installment has not yet been determined.