WFP to take over ICRC’s food assistance programme in Mrauk-U Twsp

25 Jan 2023

DMG Newsroom
25 January 2023, Mrauk-U

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has handed over its food assistance programme for displaced people in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township to the World Food Programme (WFP).

The ICRC will focus on regional development works, and thus handed over the responsibility to supply food to internally displaced people (IDPs) in Mrauk-U Township as of next month, an ICRC source told DMG.

“The ICRC will shift its focus from IDP camps to villages,” said the source.

The ICRC’s monthly food ration includes a sack of rice, 20 kilogrammes of peas, six litres of cooking oil and a viss of salt per household, as well as canned fish and sanitary pads.

“The ICRC has taken all the [IDP identity] cards it has given to us. We have never had contact with WFP before, and therefore we have concerns,” said U Kyaw Tin, manager of the Tein Nyo IDP camp.

DMG was unable to reach WFP for comment as of press time.

There are 28 IDP camps in Mrauk-U Township, all of which have primarily relied on ICRC for food supplies.

IDPs are concerned that they may run into food shortages, said manager U San Shwe Thar of the Myothit IDP camp in Mrauk-U town.

“The ICRC said the WFP will start supplying in February. There are also rumours that WFP will only start to supply in March. If that’s the case, we will run into difficulties,” said U San Shwe Thar.

Many of the IDPs in Mrauk-U Township were displaced by fighting between the military and Arakan Army from late 2018 to November 2020, with some sheltering in the camps in Mrauk-U for more than four years.