IDPs at Alae Kyun village find themselves displaced again as food runs short

By Hnin Nwe 16 Jun 2020

Hnin Nwe | DMG
16 June, Ann

Facing food shortages, more than 100 internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering at Alae Kyun village in the Dar Let Chaung village-tract of Ann Township, Arakan State, have relocated to Ann town, according to the manager of the No. 1 Pae Padone IDP camp in Ann town.

The IDPs are residents of Mingaladon village and had been staying at Alae Kyun village for about a week due to recent clashes near their village.

“Villages of the Dar Let Chaung village-tract depend on Kazukai village for food. When the Tatmadaw blocked the gate of Kazukai, villagers began running out of food and they came and took shelter at the camp in Ann town,” explained U Than Shwe, manager of the No. 1 Pae Padone IDP camp.

The Tatmadaw blockaded both motorways and waterways to Alae Kyun village, so the Mingaladon villagers faced food supply challenges as they sought refuge at Alae Kyun, said U Tin Aung, a villager who fled his home due to conflict.

“We had to have our food we took when we fled from home. All villagers are in trouble and help cannot be provided to us because transportation of food is blocked there,” he said.

DMG phoned Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun and Major-General Tun Tun Nyi of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team seeking comment on the Dar Let Chaung village-tract blockade, but they could not be reached.

Mingaladon is a predominantly ethnic Chin village of more than 70 households.