Maungdaw IDPs in need of food, healthcare services

By Admin 19 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
19 September 2024, Maungdaw

Internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State's Maungdaw Township, where fighting between the military and Arakkha Army (AA) is intensifying, are reportedly in need of food and healthcare services.

"It has been more than four months since I left my home. I have never received assistance from any organisation," said an IDP in Maungdaw Township. "I asked for help from my relatives working abroad to tackle my livelihood hardships. Some IDPs are going hungry."

IDPs report suffering from diarrhoea as well as skin diseases as they have no choice but to use unsanitary water for their daily needs.

Another IDP said that the IDPs have no medicine and no access to proper healthcare services.

"IDPs suffer from diarrhoea as well as skin diseases as they have to drink unclean water and lack medicine. No organisation provides healthcare services to the IDPs," they added.

The AA has provided some food, shelter and healthcare services to the IDPs from Maungdaw Township, but the assistance is reportedly not enough to meet the demands of a substantial and growing IDP population.

IDPs who spoke to DMG expressed hope that international organisations, civil society groups and volunteers will offer support as much as possible.

"We provide rice to the IDPs with cash donations from some people working abroad. Aid is said to be insufficient due to the large number of IDPs, and we don't know how long the fighting will last," said an aid worker.

The AA is continuing to attack Maungdaw in an effort to seize control of the border town, and tens of thousands have fled the fighting. IDPs say food assistance is among the most pressing of their concerns.

The number of IDPs in Arakan State has increased to more than 600,000 since the latest hostilities began on November 13, while humanitarian access remains severely restricted by the regime.