Ponnagyun Twsp IDP camp faces food shortages

24 Jul 2022

DMG Newsroom
24 July 2022, Ponnagyun 

Internally displaced people (IDPs) at a camp in a Ponnagyun Township industrial zone say there has been a shortage of rice at the camp for almost two months. 

The junta-controlled Department of Disaster Management had been providing rice to the displacement camp in Arakan State. But the IDPs have not received any food aid from the department for about two months and have had to borrow rice from others, said U Than Htay, manager of the displacement camp. 

“We can buy cooking oil and iodised salt if we have income. But rice is very important to us. Some people at the displacement camp go outside for work, but some are unable to find a job. So displaced people have to borrow rice from others,” he explained.

The World Food Programme (WFP) provides K18,000 monthly to each IDP at the camp, but the cash assistance is not enough for them, IDPs say.  

“The IDPs are struggling to make ends meet and rice is very important to every family. I want the government to provide rice to us. If we have rice, we will be OK,” said U Win Maung, an IDP. 

When asked by DMG, U Hla Thein, spokesman for the Arakan State military council, he said he was not aware of the matter, referring the reporter to the Disaster Management Department. 

“We [Arakan State military council] don’t distribute the relief items. The Department of Disaster Management is responsible for distribution of relief supplies to the IDPs. The Department of Disaster Management’s budget is allocated by the Union government every three months. Only the department will know the reason for the delay in distributing relief materials to the displaced people,” he said. 

DMG’s repeated attempts to contact officials from the Department of Disaster Management for comment were unsuccessful. 

About 560 people from 150 households in villages such as Thazi, Kyaukseik, and Doe Tan in Ponnagyun Township are currently taking refuge at the IDP camp. Other IDPs in various townships across Arakan State are also facing food shortages and shelter insecurity.