Government’s IDP camps, 35 percent complete

19 Aug 2019

Aung Htein | DMG
19 August, Sittwe
 
IDP camps built by the government have reached a 35 percent completion level, union minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye said regarding the proposal endorsed by the Arakan State parliament.

The regional parliament approved the proposal urging the Arakan State government to build IDP camps for refugees who are afraid of returning home at the present time.

The union minister said that seven IDP camps have been built using a budget of MMK 1617.500 million. Royal Kite, Nay Yaung Tun Lin, Aung Chan Thar and Htaik Tan Nay Lin companies started the projects in June.

U Tun Aung Thein, Arakan State MP for Buthidaung Township, who is the leader of the proposal, said that actual implementation has not been seen regarding the project.

“It was said that the IDP camps will be built before rainy season. The rainy season will end soon. So, their reply to the proposal was an empty one. We must say the project cannot be carried out in the allotted time,” the regional lawmaker said.

The government has been building seven IDP camps in six townships; industrial zones in Ponnagyun Township, Ywar Thit Kay and Thaung Da Ra in Rathedaung Township, Lay Yin Kwin (airport) in Mrauk-U Township, Nadin in Minbya Township, Myaung Nar village in Buthidaung Township and Myothit ward in Kyauktaw Township.

Local residents from villages near armed confrontations in Arakan State have been taking shelter in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon (Kan Htauk Gyi), Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Kyauk Phyu and Ann townships, and over 26,800 people are taking refuge in 87 IDP sites according to the figures from 28 July, the government said.

 “While the number of IDPs has reached nearly a hundred thousand, the chief minister elected by Arakanese people is providing aid for flood victims in Mon State. There is mounting anger and frustration among Arakanese people,” U Tun Aung Thein said.

According to the figures released by the Sittwe based Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC), a group collected IDP lists in Arakan State, on 19 August, there are over 61,000 IDPs inside and outside IDP camps.

“IDPs are in need of food on a regular basis. Some villagers trapped in conflict areas could not make it to IDP camps. Safety is the main issue since there is zero stability in the region. No one can provide aid for them so now they have become very vulnerable,” said U Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of the REC.

The government has been building a 120 sq. ft. room for a household and the project is for over 6,300 households. The government’s project does not include the refugees living outside IDP camps.

Most of the IDPs are farmers and they have to go and do cultivation work on their land and return back to IDP camps every night. That’s why some refugees refuse to stay in the camps the government is building because the camps are far from their homes and land.