Over 500 IDPs in Kyauktaw Twsp displacement camp pushed to return home

By Admin 30 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
30 August 2023, Kyauktaw

More than 500 people displaced by past fighting and currently sheltering in downtown Kyauktaw, Arakan State, were reportedly told by Myanmar’s military regime to return to their homes, according to internally displaced people (IDPs).

A group of junta officials consisting of the township administrator and departmental employees visited the Kaviyadana IDP camp and Naypukhan displacement camp in downtown Kyauktaw at around 8 a.m. and told IDPs to return home.

“We were not told when we have to return home. Junta officials said that they are planning to send over 500 IDPs back home. They didn’t say who are among the 500 people that will be sent back home,” said Ma Khaing Aye Nyunt, an IDP woman from Kyauktaw’s Kaviyadana displacement camp.

1,068 IDPs from Tinma, Wetmakya, Laungshae, and Aut Mondaunt villages in Kyauktaw Township and Pweechaungwa, Hnamada, Kyetyetkaing and Ahet Mondaunt villages in Chin State’s Paletwa Township are currently taking refuge at Kaviyadana displacement camp.

The military regime has also offered to provide each IDP with K600,000, along with consumer goods, so that they can return home more easily.

U Zaw Nyunt, the administrator of Kyauktaw Township, could not be reached for comment on the matter.

“The military junta is reportedly planning to send back IDPs. IDPs from some villages along the west bank of the Kaladan River are among those to be sent back home,” said U Maung Aye Saw, manager of the Naypukhan IDP camp.

Hundreds of people displaced by fighting west of the Kaladan River are from villages such as Meewa, Gyinkharsae, Laungshae, Kwanswel, Aut Mondaunt, Aungthaya, Thanpayadaunt and Detphyu and their farmlands and orchards are largely located on the east bank of the Kaladan River.

There are concerns that if the displaced people return to their home, they will not be allowed to go to the east bank of the Kaladan River to work.

“We want to return home, but we are worried that the fighting will resume. We don’t want to flee again if the fighting breaks out. There are concerns that if the displaced people return to their home, they will not be allowed to go to the east bank of the Kaladan River to work,” said Ko Soe Win Naing, an IDP man from Meewa Village.

The Naypukhan displacement camp was established by the ousted NLD government and is home to more than 2,000 IDPs from at least 10 villages including Tinma and Pyainetaing villages in Kyauktaw Township.

There are more than 58,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State and Chin State’s Paletwa Township who are unable to return home due to military conflict, according to figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The primary reasons why many IDPs are still unable to return to their homes are the presence of junta troops in and around their villages, fears of renewed fighting, and landmines, as well as the lack of security guarantees.

Some IDPs from Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Ann and Paletwa townships were forced to return home after the junta reached an informal ceasefire with the AA in November 2022. Many of those IDP returnees are reportedly facing livelihood hardships and blame the military regime for failing to take responsibility for assisting their transition back home.