Impending hunger at old displacement camps

By Admin 29 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
29 November 2023, Sittwe

Arakan State residents who have been taking shelter at displacement camps for years after being displaced by previous fighting have run out of food supplies as Myanmar’s military regime has imposed travel restrictions since November 13.

More than 58,000 people displaced by the fighting between Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) in 2018-2020, and 2022 remain at camps in Arakan State and Chin State’s Paletwa Township, according to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Displacement camps in Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U and Rathedaung townships have run out of food supplies.

Daw Ma Hsan Win from Nyaungchaung displacement in Kyauktaw Township said: “Assistance does not reach due to the blockade. We can’t work, and we are having serious hardships. We only have one day of rice. We will be starving.”

Displaced people have not received a monthly allowance of 30,000 kyats per person provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) for two months.

UNOCHA on November 17 called on Myanmar’s military regime to allow unfettered access to roads and waterways to carry out humanitarian operations.

Displaced people’s attempts to work in towns and elsewhere have been effectively barred by tight junta checks and blockades of transportation routes.

U Kyaw Than from Yoe Tayoke displacement in Ponnagyun Township said: “We dare not go out and work. We have run out of food, and assistance has not yet reached us.”

Displaced people also need healthcare services as some are suffering from seasonal flu.

“We haven’t got assistance [from donors] for two months. It is not OK to go out and work. Children are sick, and parents do not have money to see a doctor,” said U Oo Than Myint from Aung Zedi displacement camp in Mrauk-U.

Thousands of people in Arakan State and neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township have been newly displaced by the renewed fighting that erupted on November 13. They too need food supplies and medicines.