Tens of thousands displaced by Shan State fighting need relief aid: UNOCHA

By Admin 10 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
10 November 2023, Sittwe

Tens of thousands of people displaced by fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and the Brotherhood Alliance in northern Shan State need emergency relief supplies, according to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

The UNOCHA will spend US$1 million on delivery of humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the recent hostilities.

“This support is, however, insufficient to meet the surge in needs,” UNOCHA said, adding: “A halt in clashes and unimpeded access by all parties are critical to ensuring the delivery of timely, life-saving services to people in need.”

The number of civilians displaced continues to rise as fighting has raged for two weeks in northern Shan State.

Roads are closed and phone services are disrupted by the fighting, hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid, said UNOCHA. Humanitarian partners are nonetheless closely monitoring the security situation to provide humanitarian access to those in need, it added.

“Major transport routes have been cut off, including the strategic Lashio-Muse highway, leading to a healthcare access crisis that is already reported to have resulted in several deaths,” UNOCHA reported.

Banks are only operating for limited hours in the region because of security concerns, resulting in reduction in the availability of cash, the UN aid agency continued.

“The increasing price of basic commodities as a result of transport and cash flow challenges will further diminish the purchasing power of cash-based assistance provided by humanitarian partners,” it said.

The combat zone resulting from the launch of the Brotherhood Alliance’s “Operation 1027” on October 27 continues to expand. The ethnic alliance has vowed to work together with other revolutionary organisations to fight the regime across the country, with the stated aim of ending military dictatorship in Myanmar.