Relief aid needed for thousands of new IDPs in Kyauktaw Twsp

By Myo Thiri Kyaw 05 Sep 2020

Myo Thiri Kyaw | DMG
5 September, Kyauktaw 

Internally displaced people (IDPs) who in recent days fled from several villages along the Kaladan River in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, are in need of sustainable provisioning of food and other aid, according to people assisting them. 

Regional instability reportedly displaced nearly 20,000 people from more than 10 villages in Kyauktaw Township from August 31 to September 4. 

The IDPs have sought refuge in Kyauktaw town and in neighbouring villages, but they are facing difficulties with food and shelter.  

About 520 IDPs arrived at Sabaseik village, where they are being provided food by local residents. But with those arrangements considered unsustainable over the longer term, they are expecting government assistance. 

Ko Kyaw Ye Tun, a resident of Sabaseik village who is providing help for those displaced, said: “IDPs who have relatives here are taking shelter at their relatives’ homes. Those who do not have relatives here have to stay at places as they are available. They are provided food from villagers. I want the government to help them.”  

More than 500 villagers are sheltering at Shwe Hlaing Monastery, 320 others are at Thawin Kaing Monastery and 180 IDPs are at Kyauktan Monastery in Kyauktaw Township. They also are in need of shelter, clothing and toilets, said Ko Khaing Min Shin, who is providing help for IDPs. 

“If there are no donors, they will be in trouble in the long run because villagers cannot provide food for them for a long time. We totally denounce the acts that forced villagers to be displaced from homes and villages caught fire amid the COVID-19 outbreak,” he said, referring to the burning of Taungpauk and Phayapaung villages on September 3.  

Many of those fleeing the fires that night did not have time to gather food or clothing before they left. 

More than 300 IDPs taking shelter at the Dhamayone building of the Maha Myat Muni Pagoda are also facing difficulties because they do not have any relief aid. 

“CSOs [civil society organisations] cannot arrive at them at the moment because of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Ko Win, who is providing help for IDPs. 

Ma Khaing Win Shwe, who fled Alaekyun village, said women at the pagoda’s Dhamayone building are facing difficulties showering and changing clothes because the facility is packed with IDPs.  

“Women are in need of help for everything, including sanitary pads. They need more clothes.  For the elderly, healthcare supplies are required,” she said. 

U Win Myint, spokesperson for the Arakan State government, said the government would provide relief aid for the IDPs depending on their demands. 

“We will provide what they need,” he said. 

It is estimated that there are more than 200,000 IDPs in Arakan State due to ongoing conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army.  

Even as the state’s COVID-19 case count has spiked in recent weeks, there has been no appreciable decline in military-AA hostilities — as has been the case since the pandemic began. 

On September 1, the United Nations office in Myanmar pledged its full support for efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, and urged the warring sides in the state’s armed conflict to “heed the Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire” amid the pandemic.  

“Access to communities in need in northern Rakhine [Arakan] and southern Chin state has also been curtailed due to the ongoing armed conflict in this area,” the UN office said in a statement.