Battered by bad weather, Sanyin IDP camp’s resilience tested anew

By DMG 24 Jun 2021

 DMG Newsroom

24 June 2021, Myebon

The Sanyin camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State’s Myebon Township, which was damaged by recent strong winds and heavy rain, is being rebuilt with the help of local and foreign donors, according to a camp official. 

Thabarwa Nadi, a Buddhist monk and in-charge of the camp, said rebuilding efforts are underway and some tents have been replaced, but much work remains to be done. 

“It can be said that only 5% of the temporary tents under construction are completed. Due to the heavy rains, temporary tents were covered with tarpaulins,” the monk said. 

Mosquito nets are urgently needed at the camp, and only 15 days’ worth of rice and other food supplies remain, the monk added. 

Residents from Sanyin, Hinkhayaw and Ingyin villages have been taking refuge at the IDP camp since early 2020 due to armed clashes at the time between the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) and Arakan Army (AA). 

The Sanyin camp previously sheltered more than 400 IDPs, but now houses only 280 people as many have returned to their homes due to the absence of fighting since November of last year. 

Sanyin is not included on the government’s list of officially recognised IDP camps, meaning IDPs rely on the help of humanitarian groups and civil society organisations — and often face food shortages. 

“We face many difficulties in earning a living. When there is a shortage of food, everyone has to share what they have,” said Daw Mar May Aye, an IDP sheltering at the Sanyin camp. 

The Sanyin IDP camp was jointly opened in 2020 by the Mya Tan Saung Foundation in Mrauk-U and the Arakanese Monks Association. 

The Tatmadaw called for disbanding the displacement camp three times last year, but hundreds of IDPs have remained. Some camp shelters were destroyed by Tatmadaw personnel in January 2020. 

U Tin Win Aung from Ingyin village, a Sanyin camp IDP, said that although he wanted to return home given the lack of fighting in Arakan State, he could not do so due to a Tatmadaw troop presence near his village. 

“We want to return home because we have not farmed for a year. Last year, I had to flee because of fighting during the rice harvest. As long as the Tatmadaw is stationed near the village, we do not dare to return,” he explained. 

No fighting between the military and Arakan Army has been reported in Arakan State for some eight months, with the cessation of hostilities prompting tens of thousands of IDPs to return home. Still, more than 100,000 people remain displaced across Arakan State, with many struggling to make ends meet.