Government urged to allow NGOs, INGOs to assist Arakan’s IDPs

By Min Tun 05 Sep 2019

Min Tun | DMG
September 5, Sittwe

The Arakan National Solidarity Committee asked the government on September 2 to permit local and international donors, NGO and INGO organizations to give assistance freely to IDPs in Arakan State.

U Khin Maung Gyi, the spokesperson of committee, said that the organizations need to be allowed to provide urgent assistance to IDPs without any obstacles. 

“It is a very important situation for local and international organizations to go and give assistance to about 70,000 IDPs without any barriers. That’s why, we [committee] would like to ask the government to let us do it,” he said. 

Since fighting kicked off in Arakan State in December 2018, all local and international non-government organizations except for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and World Food Programme (WFP) have been blocked from going to conflict-affected areas for security reasons.

U Khin Maung Gyi said the decision to block access meant IDPs didn’t have enough assistance.

“It is difficult for NGOs and INGOs to give assistance. The government provides some assistance but I don’t think it is enough to meet their needs.  The areas affected by fighting is growing so it’s getting more difficult to provide enough assistance. If the public faces lots of problems, it will not be good for the country,” U Khin Maung Gyi said.

In addition, the authorities took action against some organizations that collected donation money for IDPs without a permit.

More than 60,000 people have left their homes because of conflicts between Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA) and are facing education and health problems including a lack of food, clothing and housing.