Public awareness provided in IDP camps

29 Jul 2019

Khaing Min Nyo | DMG
29 July, Yangon

To prevent human trafficking, a public awareness campaign is going to be provided in IDP camps in Arakan State who are taking refuge following the ongoing armed conflict between the Tatmadaw and the AA, according to the All Arakan Students’ & Youths’ Congress (AASYC).

Since the number of IDPs has been increasing day by day, the AASYC held a workshop for IDP’s at the Refugee affairs office at Thailand-Myanmar border on 28 July.

Topics such as livelihoods, education, health, security, drug using, human trafficking, dignified living condition, emergency relief aid, rescue from war zones, providing food, medicine and health care service, resettlement, rehabilitate and international relief aid have been discussed in the workshop where future plans have been made.

“IDPs are jobless and their horrid living conditions and lack of education could lead to becoming victims of human trafficking. There many ways people fall prey to human trafficking so IDPs should learn about the ways to avoid such pitfalls, because we’re worried about them being trafficked,” said U Tin Oo, secretary of the AASYC.

The AASYC had attempted for previous months to work with international anti-human trafficking organizations, but failed when the government prohibited international organizations to enter conflict-ridden areas.

Another of its aims is to carry out providing relief aid for IDPs by establishing a collective committee combining all CSOs that provide humanitarian assistance in the region.

“Realistically, it is difficult to establish the committee. We will have to push to implement it. If so, we are strong enough to put pressure on international community and the government,” Ko Tin Oo said.

The number of IDPs in Arakan State has now reached nearly 60,000. If the war continues in the future, the number of IDPs in the region is likely to increase and they wish both sides to resolve their political problems through political dialogues, the AASYC said.