Nearly 160,000 people displaced by fighting in Arakan: UNOCHA

By Admin 05 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
5 April 2024, Sittwe

Nearly 157,000 people have been displaced in Arakan State since renewed fighting broke out between Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakan Army (AA) on November 13, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said on Thursday.

Civilians have been forced to flee their homes not only because of the fighting but also due to the junta’s indiscriminate air and artillery strikes on residential areas. More people are fleeing their homes in Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Ann townships, where the regime and the AA are currently engaged in fierce fighting.

Internally displaced people (IDPs) are facing severe water shortages in camps and villages where they are taking shelter, said Ma Oo May Than from Ganan Taung Village in Ponnagyun Township.

“At our camp, some children have suffered from diarrhoea as we have to drink unclean water due to water shortages. We have to fetch water from creeks in the forest, which are far from the camp,” she said.

“Many vulnerable displaced people in Rakhine [Arakan State] are facing water scarcity as they head into the driest weeks of the year,” UNOCHA said. “Provision of shelter support ahead of the cyclone season is critical. Food insecurity is also a major concern with soaring prices and extremely limited market supplies in many locations.”

Tens of thousands of IDPs in Arakan State are in urgent need of shelter, food, medicines and water.

“We don’t know yet when we will be able to return to the town,” said a displaced man from Ponnagyun Township. “Daily-wage earners like us are suffering worse. Food prices are soaring while we have no jobs. Without assistance, we are going to starve to death.”