Arakan State Peace and Stability Committee, government and parliament discuss IDP affairs

20 Jun 2019

Min Tun | DMG

20 June, Sittwe

The number of IDPs from six townships in Arakan State has reached about 50,000 following the clashes in northern Arakan State, the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC) said.

A meeting on war refugees was held among officials from the Supporting Committee for Peace and Stability in Arakan State, the regional government and Arakan State parliament on 19 June at the State Cabinet’s Guesthouse in Sittwe.

Interlocutors mainly discussed the affairs of refugees in Arakan State regarding their health, education and habitation, said U Win Myint, minister of Municipal Affairs in Arakan State.

“The committee helped the parliament and government with working for the affairs of the refugees in Arakan State, especially for their resettlement, education, health and living,” he said.

Since most refugees might face challenges with their living conditions in the long run, the cabinet will work together with state parliament members, said state MP for Myebon Township U Aung Win, who attended the meeting.

He added that the state cabinet has made preparations for future challenges people will come up against and it did not ban relief aid from abroad for Arakanese refugees.

“The regional government invited tender to build houses for war refugees. And it has made plans for the health and education of the children in IDP camps. The state cabinet provides K9000 for a household per month. And Colonel Phone Tint said that the state government did not prohibit foreign donors from furnishing relief aid,” he said.

The interlocutors have discussed possible ways to reduce ongoing conflicts in the region, the Arakan State government said.

Municipal Affairs minister U Win Myint said that a solution can be found only if both groups try to figure out approaches to lessen skirmishes between them.

In the meeting, U Aye Tha Aung, chairman of the Supporting Committee for Peace and Stability in Arakan State, guaranteed to fulfill refugee’s needs, arrange education access for children, build shelters and provide health care services.