Hardships of war increasingly lead Arakan IDPs to panhandle for survival

By Admin 07 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
7 October 2024, Sittwe

The number of people begging for money and food on the streets has reportedly increased in war-ravaged Arakan State, which the military regime has essentially cut off from mainland Myanmar.

Most people begging on the streets are internally displaced people (IDPs) including elderly people, mothers with their children in tow, and children by themselves. They can be seen panhandling at markets, bus terminals, urban wards and travelling from village to village.

Unemployment is high in Arakan State, where the local economy has been battered by months of armed conflict between Myanmar's military regime and the Arakkha Army (AA). Shortages and price hikes resulting from junta blockades of land and water routes into the state are taking a heavy toll on residents.

"More and more people have become jobless as the fighting continues. We are seeing elderly people, children and in some cases, entire families, begging," said one Kyauktaw resident.

Increasing numbers of people who have taken up begging bowls for survival have been reported in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Ponnagyun townships in particular, with Ponnagyun described as the township where the ranks of beggars have risen the most.

IDPs say they have been forced to beg on the streets due to the scarcity of jobs and high food prices while they receive little assistance from humanitarian organisations and individual donors.

"Many people make snacks or collect firewood as a way of living. So, we can't earn money from that," said Daw Ma Hsan Aye from the Kyangin IDP camp in Ponnagyun Township. "There are no other jobs for us. And we receive little assistance. So, IDPs have been forced to beg on the streets."

Approximately 60,000 IDPs are taking refuge in Ponnagyun Township, and about 30 percent of them have been forced to beg to survive, according to the Ponnagyun Youths Association (PYA).

"As the number of beggars has increased in Ponnagyun, some people even go to Paletwa [in neighbouring Chin State] to beg," said Ko Pyae Phyo Naing, chairman of the PYA.