Arakan Army provides relief supplies for storm-hit Muslim villages

By Admin 09 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
9 June 2023, Sittwe

The Arakan Army (AA) is providing food supplies and repairing houses for storm-hit Muslim villages in Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships in Arakan State.

Members of the United League for Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) have been providing food supplies including rice for storm victims, according to the Cyclone Mocha Emergency Rescue and Rehabilitation Committee for Arakan (ERRCA).

An official of Cyclone Mocha ERRCA said: “We are providing food supplies for storm victims regardless of race and religion. Some villages receive relief supplies from international organisations and civil society organisations. We also help repair houses for Muslims. We also provide healthcare services.”

Cyclone Mocha ERRCA was formed by the ULA to provide emergency relief assistance, shelter and basic healthcare services for storm victims in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha. The committee is led by AA deputy military chief Dr. Nyo Twan Awng.

The ULA/AA is helping repair houses in several Muslim villages in Mrauk-U that were damaged by the storm, according to officials of the villages.

U Maung Kyaw Hla, who is in charge of Thayet Cho village, said: “ULA/AA rebuilt houses for impoverished families who can’t afford to rebuild their houses. Food supplies have not yet reached us. Fourteen houses were totally destroyed in our village. [ULA/AA] helped rebuild houses for three poor families.”

The ULA/AA also helped rebuild houses for five poor households, said U Maung Aye Thar, who is in charge of Yeinthe Village. “It has not yet provided food supplies. The regime has provided us with three sacks of rice. We are grateful that the AA has built houses for poor families.”

The AA has helped rebuild damaged houses in five Muslim villages in Kyauktaw Township. It has also provided food supplies for some Muslim villages in Buthidaung Township, according to residents.

A resident of Wetmakya village said: “[The AA] provided one basket of rice for each household, though it is not enough. It also provided tarpaulin sheets and helped repair damaged houses.”

Fellow ethnic armed organisations and the shadow National Unity Government have donated 1 billion kyats to the AA to fund relief operations.

Arakanese communities at home and abroad and other organisations are also providing cash donations for storm victims through the ULA/AA, said Cyclone Mocha ERRCA.

A total of 216,681 houses were destroyed or damaged by Cyclone Mocha in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Ratheduang, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, affecting more than 1.2 million people, according to the AA.

The regime is also providing food supplies and shelter for storm-hit townships in Arakan State.

However, some villagers have yet to receive relief supplies either from the regime or AA or humanitarian/social organisations.