Arakan State IDP camps in need of mosquito nets

By Kyaw Thu Htay 06 Jul 2020

Kyaw Thu Htay | DMG
6 July, Sittwe

Some IDP camps in Arakan State are in urgent need of mosquito nets, according to the in-charges of the camps.

“More than 1,500 war victims are taking shelter at Annthar village IDP camp and Thaykan IDP camp in Minbya Township. As the IDPs have no mosquito nets, they have to burn firewood at the bottom of huts to drive off mosquitoes,” said Ko Ann Thargyi, chair of the Thingaha Kanlat Rakhita Aid Association.

“The IDPs are experiencing mosquito bites as they have no mosquito nets,” he added.

Some IDP camps are in urgent need of mosquito nets as their inhabitants are at risk of malaria and dengue fever outbreaks during the rainy season, with certain settlements built in or near paddy fields that lack proper drainage systems.

“The war victims in Tinnyo IDP camp in Mrauk-U Township, where 845 households and over 3,000 people are taking shelter, have to use old and torn mosquito nets by repairing them,” said U Wai Hla Aung, an in-charge of the camp. “The Health Department has not provided the IDPs with mosquito nets yet. Some families can afford to buy nets while some others who cannot afford to buy mosquito nets have to sleep without mosquito nets.”

U Hla Pyae Aung, a local administrator, said: “As there is no supply of mosquito nets at the IDP camp this year, war victims at Myathle IDP camp in Ponnagyun Township, where 152 households and over 700 people are taking shelter, have to use old and torn mosquito nets. Some households have no mosquito nets.”

In addition, Wartaung IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township has over 1,200 people and lacks sufficient mosquito nets, said U Aung Kyaw Nyunt, an in-charge of the camp.

This year, there are fewer donations of mosquito nets to the IDP camps, and the Health Department has not distributed mosquito nets to displaced populations, according to camp in-charges.

From February to June 18, there were around 100 dengue infection cases in Arakan State, with no deaths from the mosquito-borne illness reported.

Last year there were 1,808 dengue cases and eight associated deaths, according to figures from the Department of Public Health.