Displaced people in Arakan face shortages of food

By Admin 22 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
23 November 2023, Sittwe

Thousands of people who have fled their homes for safer locations due to the latest fighting in Arakan State and the danger of the military’s heavy weapons are already facing the issue of food shortages.

Food and accommodation for people displaced by the fighting are provided by their host communities, where displaced people are currently taking refuge.

Displaced people say that there is a shortage of basic food items such as rice, cooking oil, onion, and pepper in the villages and they will likely face food shortages if they are banned from travelling to other areas.

“As the population increased, as the days grew longer, food became scarce. We are banned from travelling from one place to another. Rice will run out in a few days. We face more hardships as social organisations do not come to the village,” said a community elder from Hinkharaw Village in Pauktaw Township.

It has been 10 days since the regime blocked off the land and water routes to Arakan State since renewed hostilities on November 13.

Those fleeing the fighting with only the clothes on their backs are dependent on the locals in their temporary refuge villages for food and accommodation.

“We brought nothing as we fled in fear. Local people in the village arrange food and accommodation for us. We don’t know how to survive when food runs out. We would like to ask the concerned officials to help us,” said a woman displaced by the Pauktaw fighting.

Humanitarian activities halted in Arakan State as the regime has blocked all land and water routes and banned NGOs, INGOs and civil society organisations from delivering relief aid to those in need.

The conflict has severely disrupted key transport routes, impeding civilian movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid, UNOCHA Myanmar said in a statement on November 22.

“It should not be OK to target the people in armed conflict and make them suffer. Human rights also need to be respected,” said a social activist in Arakan State.

About 60,000 people have been displaced by the renewed fighting between the military and Arakan Army (AA) since November 13 in Arakan State.