Junta bars collection of donations for storm victims in Kyaukphyu

By Admin 24 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
24 May 2023, Kyaukphyu

Social activists said the township military council did not allow the plan of local charities in Kyaukphyu Township to gather together and collect donations in order to support storm victims in Arakan State.

Some 70 social activists including representatives from over 30 local charities in Kyaukphyu and Buddhist monks held a meeting on May 21 to discuss matters related to providing necessary assistance to storm victims.

Social activists made a decision to set up donation centres in downtown Kyaukphyu and collect donations from people around the township in order to provide for the storm victims in a timely manner. Social activists requested permission from the township General Administration Department office on May 22 to collect donations for storm victims, but their request was denied.

“GAD officials told us that there were damages caused by the cyclone storm in Kyaukphyu. The GAD authorities told us that they would not allow us to collect donations as this town also has urgent needs,” said U Balagyi, chairman of Duwan Kyel Funeral Service in Kyaukphyu.

Many homes and buildings were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha across Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw, and Pauktaw townships. Kyaukphyu, Thandwe and Gwa townships suffered minor damage from the storm.

Kyaukphyu-based charities want to help the people affected by the storm, but philanthropists say they fear action if they collect donations without permission.

“No matter what happens in Arakan State, Kyaukphyu has always been a strong participant in providing aid. The military council did not give us permission to collect donations, so it is sad for the people affected by the storm,” said Dr. Tun Myint, a local philanthropist in Kyaukphyu.

DMG attempted to contact U Myo Min Tun, an administrator of Kyaukphyu, regarding the matter, but he could not be reached.

A total of 1,156,796 people were affected by the cyclone and accompanying flooding in Arakan State, with financial losses totalling nearly K4.7 billion and 148 deaths, the junta’s Arakan State Administration Council said on Friday.