Some camps in Arakan State face food shortage

27 Sep 2019

Win Nyunt | DMG
September 27, Sittwe

The Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC) said that some IDP camps in Arakan State are running out food.

Ko Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of REC, said that some IDP camps in Buthidaung, Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships are facing difficulties because of a lack of food.

“The numbers of donors are getting lower. Not many people go to the camps because the organizations don’t have funds to donate over the long term. So the groups that provide assistance are going down,” he said.

Ahtet Thin Pone Tan and Phar Kywel Wa camps in Ponnagyun Township ran out of food a week ago.

U Than Myint, the spokesperson of Phar Kywel Wa camp, confirmed that they are facing a food shortage problem because they don’t have any donors.

“It is been about a week since we ran out of food. No charity groups are coming here. The government provides us with MMK300 per day for a person. That isn’t enough and we have to sell what we have. We don’t have any donors because our camp is in a remote area” he said.

Phar Kywel Wa camp has more than 280 and Ahtet Thin Pone Tan has more than 300 people.

More than 65,000 people have been displaced by fighting between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA) in northern Arakan State and they are staying in 61 refugee camps, according to REC data.