ICRC says it will discuss with authorities to provide food for Tin Nyo IDP camp

By Win Nyunt 23 Aug 2019

Win Nyunt | DMG
23 August, Sittwe
     
The ICRC said it will work with proper authorities if Tin Nyo IDP camp in Mrauk-U Township needs rice and other food in spite the regional government’s recent order to stop providing rice for the camp.

“We will negotiate with authorities if the camp needs rice. We will arrange as much as possible to provide rice and other food supplies,” the ICRC told the DMG.

The regional government instructed the ICRC to stop providing rice, saying the camp has sufficient food for refugees for the current month, an official from the camp said.

The regional government has barred the ICRC from providing rice to the camp, but allowed furnishing other food supplies. Officials are concerned that rice would run out for refugees.

About 3000 people are taking refuge in Tin Nyo IDP camp and over 1000 bags of rice were consumed a month, said U Soe Naing, manager of Tin Nyo camp.

The camp has about 100 bags of rice left at the moment, and it needs the help of the ICRC to be able to provide rice for the refugees.

“The main problem is getting rice to the refugees. We need over 1000 bags of rice a month. It is difficult for local CSOs to provide that amount. It is worth over MMK 20 million for a month. If the ICRC stopped providing rice for the camp, it would put people in a very precarious situation,” he said.

U Wai Hla Aung, administrator of Tin Nyo village said that the camp might face difficulty next months if the government stops the ICRC providing rice.

“We have to get rice from other donors. The food supplies the ICRC provided on a monthly basis is not sufficient for the camp because the number of IDPs is increasing here. The camp might face difficulty in the next few months if the government stops the ICRC providing food for the camp,” he said.

The government’s instruction to stop the ICRC’s provision for Tin Nyo camp attracted widespread criticism.

The ICRC said that it mainly provided food for the refugees from Tin Nyo camp since May and it will monitor the situations on the ground to know what refugees needed.

The ICRC visited over 60 sites in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships where local residents and IDPs are living and provided relief aid for over 34,000 people, it said.

It also said that it is providing food supplies monthly for 80,000 people in northern Arakan State.

The regional government has allowed the ICRC and the WFP to provide aid for refugees from the conflict affected areas, but banned other organizations to access to the areas.

The number of IDPs due to the ongoing fighting in northern Arakan State has reached over 60,000, the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC) announced this month.

Related Posts:

Tin Nyo IDP Camp faces difficulties with rice supplies

DMG’s Interview with ICRC on the situation of Tin Nyo IDPs Camp