Basic needs unmet for IDPs across Maungdaw Twsp

By Admin 30 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
30 November 2024, Maungdaw

Approximately 46,000 displaced residents scattered across villages in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, urgently need food and medicine amid ongoing fighting between the regime and the Arakkha Army (AA), according to the AA's political wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA).

Among the internally displaced people (IDPs) are ethnic Arakanese, Thet, Mro, Muslims and Hindus struggling to make ends meet as they face severe shortages of food, clothing and medicines.

"Mainly we need food. Initially, the camp management supplied one month's supply of rice, cooking oil, salt, chilies and onions. Later, only rice was provided. But now, even rice is unavailable. The needs are immense," said U Thein Myint, manager of the Kyeinchaung displacement camp in Maungdaw Township.

The IDPs sheltering in Kyeinchaung Village are from the outskirts of Maungdaw Town and were rescued by the AA during fighting in August.

The Hindu people taking refuge at the Laungdon Myarsin displacement camp also need food, clothes and medical care.

"We have nothing to wear," said U Maung Hla Sein, a committee member of the Laungdon Myarsin displacement camp. "We don't even have pots and pans to cook. It is the cold season now, and we still don't have blankets. We are going hungry. We have sold our belongings to eat, and we have also borrowed from others to survive."

Nearly 1,000 displaced Hindus from Maungdaw Town and surrounding villages are taking refuge at the Laungdon Myarsin camp. As there is no source of drinking water near the camp, they have to walk nearly a mile to fetch water.

"There are no healthcare facilities. There are no doctors," added U Maung Hla Sein. "Medicines are exorbitantly priced. What used to cost 1,000 kyats now costs 5,000 kyats. For any health complaints, we have to go to Ngakuya [Village to receive treatment]. It is quite troublesome when we need to go to Ngakuya while we have no money."

Similarly, the more than 3,000 Muslim IDPs at the Hla Poe Kaung camp are struggling to survive as they have no jobs or income. They hope for aid and support from international organisations.

"The weather is boiling here without any trees. Most people develop rashes and diarrhoea due to the heat. The water is also not clean," said Daw Hla Thein Nu from the Hla Poe Kaung camp.

Many Muslim residents fled with only clothes on their backs, and children and new mothers in particular need warm clothes and blankets.

Local ULA leaders acknowledged to DMG that the group cannot provide supplies on a wide enough scale due to the large number of displaced people and ongoing hostilities.

Fighting remains oftentimes intense in Maungdaw, and international aid agencies and local civil society organisations are unable to resume humanitarian operations due to ongoing clashes and the threat of junta airstrikes.