Local CSOs pledge six months of food supplies to IDP camps in Mrauk-U Twsp

By DMG 17 Aug 2021

DMG Newsroom
17 August 2021, Mrauk-U 

Civil society organisations in Mrauk-U Township, Arakan State, are scheduled to supply basic food items such as rice, cooking oil and iodised salt to camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in the township for up to six months. 

U Ba Nyunt, chairman of the Mrauk-U CSO Network, said the plan was conceived because IDPs were facing food shortages during the rainy season and amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and had asked for help from civil society organisations in Mrauk-U. 

“The decision to provide food to the displaced people was made two days ago. Since then, we have been collecting cash donations. We will begin to supply food items to the IDPs next Sunday,” he added. 

Civil society organisations in Mrauk-U say they will provide at least two bags of rice, one viss of beans and a bottle of cooking oil to each household in the IDP camps. 

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which provides monthly rice rations and other food supplies to IDP camps in Arakan State, suspended aid deliveries on August 11, but told DMG on Monday that those operations would resume following discussions with the Arakan State military government. 

Although the ICRC has resumed aid deliveries, CSOs in the state’s northern townships will also provide food assistance to IDPs for up to six months to help stave off potential food shortages. 

“Even with the support of the ICRC, the political situation is not normal. Therefore, they [ICRC] may have various difficulties. We have set a target of six months initially to provide assistance to the IDPs,” U Ba Nyunt explained. 

Displaced people from IDP camps such as Mra Tazaung, Sinbawkaing, Tin Nyo, Myothit, Zeditaung, Myo U Gaung, Kyaukkyikay and Shwe Htee Hsaung have relied on rice supplied by the ICRC. 

U Soe Naing, in-charge of the Mrauk-U Township IDP camp, said civil society organisations welcomed the donation to those displaced. 

“We think it is good that civil society organisations are donating food items to the displaced people. This is because the ICRC provides food for the IDPs, but it is not enough and there are still needs. It would be better for these CSOs to provide food to the displaced people,” he said. 

More than 100,000 of those displaced by the fighting in Arakan State from 2018-20 have not been able to return to their homes and are currently living in IDP camps.