Diarrhoea kills IDPs in Arakan amid water scarcity

By Admin 09 May 2024

DMG Newsroom
9 May 2024, Sittwe

At least three internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State have died of diarrhoea after water scarcity forced them to use unclean water sources.

Arakan State annually faces drinking water shortages during the hot season. This year, many residents, particularly displaced people, are suffering as fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army has made it difficult for them to access potable water sources.

As reservoirs have dried up across the state, displaced people have been forced to use water from creeks and wells.

Many displaced people in Arakan State have reported diarrhoea resulting from drinking unclean water. Coupled with serious shortages of medicines due to junta blockades and fighting, some cases have been fatal.

“The water is unclean, and the heat is terrible. People are getting sick as a result. Some people have died of diarrhoea after drinking unclean water,” said U Aung Myint, manager of the Ahtet Myat Hle displacement camp in Ponnagyun Township.

Last month, three displaced men from Ahtet Myat Hle camp died after suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting for two to three days.

“We have no medicine when we are sick or have diarrhoea. Even if we can find medicines, prices have increased a lot. We have no income, and we can’t afford to seek treatment for health problems,” said a displaced woman from Pauktaw Township.

Water scarcity is expected to affect tens of thousands of displaced people, raising the risk of disease, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Myanmar Office said in a report on Thursday.

Despite access challenges, partners are working to find ways to provide water assistance to the affected areas, said the report.

More than 300,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in Arakan State, and most are in need of emergency relief supplies including food, water, medicines and shelter.