MRF donates 3,000 bags of rice for facility quarantine centres in Arakan State

By Myat Swe 26 Aug 2020

Mrat Swe | DMG
26 August, Sittwe

The Myanmar Rice Federation on August 25 donated 3,000 bags of rice to the Arakan State government to be distributed at facility quarantine centres in the state, according to members of the MRF.

U Myint Lwin of the MRF said the federation made its donation because people in facility quarantine centres might face difficulties acquiring rice as transportation links have been disrupted and a lockdown has been imposed in some Arakan State townships due to a recent COVID-19 outbreak.

“We collect donations from donors and our members. We’ve donated rice to different regions and states previously. This time, with the COVID-19 outbreak in Arakan State, we donate rice to Arakan State firstly,” he said.

Additional donated bags of rice will be distributed to other parts of Arakan State as they are received by the MRF, he added.

U Kyaw Aye Thein, the Arakan State minister for Planning, Finance, Tax and Economy, said the rice donated by the MRF would be provided to facility quarantine centres and other places in need of rice.

From August 16-26 at 8 p.m, a total of 179 COVID-19 cases were reported in Arakan State — 114 in Sittwe Township, 13 each in Pauktaw and Maungdaw Townships, 11 Mrauk-U Township, six each in Myebon and Kyauktaw Townships, five in Minbya Township, four each in Kyaukphyu and Buthidaung Townships, two in Thandwe Township and one in Ponnagyun Township.

The figures represent a dramatic spike in infections, and include the first local transmissions reported in Myanmar in more than a month. Prior to the recent outbreak, there had been just 16 coronavirus cases in total reported in Arakan State.