Muslim IDPs in Sittwe face hardships due to food aid reductions

By Admin 07 Apr 2026

DMG Newsroom

7 April 2026, Sittwe

Muslim internally displaced people living in camps in Sittwe Township in Arakan State are facing growing livelihood difficulties as food assistance has been reduced or cut since March.

According to IDPs, the World Food Programme and its partner organizations previously provided K45,000 per person each month. However, some families have now lost support entirely, while others are receiving reduced assistance based on household size.

A Muslim IDP man said that food aid reductions have affected thousands of people across Sittwe Township. He explained that some families have been completely cut off, while others receive support for fewer members than before. For example, a family of ten may now receive assistance for only six people.

Sittwe Township is currently experiencing blockades and ongoing clashes, which have made it even more difficult for displaced communities to survive.

IDPs also reported that they are severely affected by the impacts of conflict, lack of job opportunities, rising commodity prices, and the added burden of paying salaries for Muslim militia members.

Another Muslim man said the situation is becoming critical because there are no job opportunities in Sittwe. He added that people in displacement camps rely entirely on aid for survival, but prices are rising rapidly. At the same time, families must contribute to militia payments, making their situation even more difficult.

Local sources said that many Muslims in Sittwe previously depended on fishing for their livelihoods. However, fishing activities have now been banned, and restrictions on movement into the city have been tightened.

Since November 2023, authorities have strictly controlled all entry and exit points by land and water in Sittwe Township.

DMG has attempted to contact the World Food Programme regarding the reductions in assistance.

In a statement released in March, the World Food Programme said that food aid reductions are due to a global funding crisis and the increasing number of people in need.

Concerns about livelihoods are also rising among refugees in Cox’s Bazar camps in Bangladesh, where food assistance has also been reduced since April.