Sittwe IDPs still struggling to get by

By DMG 08 Apr 2022

DMG Newsroom
8 April 2022, Sittwe

Hundreds of people who have taken refuge in Sittwe after being displaced by 2018-20 fighting between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army (AA) are cash-strapped and facing hardship, with even basic food purchases out of reach for some.

About 400 people who were forced from their homes in Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U, Buthidaung and Paletwa townships are staying at a Buddhist monastery in the Arakan State capital Sittwe.

Previously, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement provided rice and other food supplies for the internally displaced people (IDPs) at the Sittwe monastery. But they have not received supplies from the ministry for about three months now, and many are attempting to scrape together a living on a monthly allowance of K16,000 (US$8.65) per head, provided by the World Food Programme (WFP).

“We have bought food on credit from grocery stores. But grocers are refusing credit now, after we ran up a debt of more than 100,000 kyats,” said Ma Tin Tin from Kyauktaw Township.

The IDPs say they want to return to their homes, but dare not because junta troops are deployed near their villages.

“All the villagers have fled from the village, but military troops are still deployed there and we therefore dare not return,” said Ma Mya Khaing from Yay Soe Chaung village. “Military troops are stationed on a hill, and our village is below it. And there are also risks of landmines.”

Even as they fear the prospect of return, several IDPs said they have difficulties finding jobs in Sittwe, and therefore want to return to their homes.

“We have been here since we were displaced by the fighting,” said U San Hla Maung from Aung Zeya village in Rathedaung Township. “Our house collapsed after being hit by an artillery strike during the fighting. Not many houses were burnt because it was raining that day. We want to go home. We all have jobs for a living there. If possible, I wish I could go home tomorrow.”

At present, the Arakan State military council has barred local residents from Tinma village in Kyauktaw Township, and Aung Thazi, Htee Swe and Kyauktan villages in Rathedaung Township, from returning home. On March 8, state military council spokesman U Oo Hla Thein said troops from the two previously warring sides were deployed near those villages, and that it was therefore not yet safe for villagers to return to their homes.