Over 50,000 displaced people in Kyaukphyu need emergency aid

By Admin 07 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

7 January 2026, Kyaukphyu

More than 50,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, are in urgent need of emergency assistance as fighting continues to escalate.

The displaced are currently sheltering in monasteries, schools, forests and fields across Kyaukphyu Township, Ramree Township, and nearby towns and villages. They report acute shortages of food, clothing and basic necessities.

"The displaced people in Kyaukphyu are not living in crowded camps. They are building makeshift shelters along roadsides," said a displaced woman in Kyaukphyu.

"Donors come from time to time and provide money, clothes, rice, oil, salt and pepper. But for people living in crowded shelters, the food runs out within a week. Now that the weather is very cold, we need more blankets and warm clothes," she said.

While some civil society organizations based in Arakan State are providing emergency assistance, needs remain severe.

Some displaced people sheltering near the coast are attempting to earn a living through fishing, but their activities are reportedly disrupted by Myanmar Navy warships.

"Right now, the displaced people are struggling to survive. They fled their homes with nothing. The military regime bombed villages and burned them down, forcing people to flee empty-handed," said another displaced man.

"Those who worked in the fields fled before harvesting their crops. Some managed to carry only a few sheaves of rice with them," he added.

The Arakan Students' Union's Ramree Township-wide Student Union Committee recently donated 200 bags of rice to displaced people from Kyaukphyu Township.

Displaced people, including women, children and the elderly, are also reported to be in urgent need of warm clothing to cope with the winter cold. Healthcare services are limited, and chronic illnesses are increasingly common among elderly IDPs.

"The displaced people in Kyaukphyu need access to clean water sources. Toilets must also be built to prevent health problems," said Ko Khaing Hein Htet, director of the Phyu Sin Yin Khwin Foundation.

"They lack clothing, so warm clothes are urgently needed. Since health centres are not operating, places to provide basic healthcare services are also urgently required," he told DMG.

According to figures compiled by social assistance organizations in April 2025, more than 40,000 people were displaced in Kyaukphyu Township, with some displaced children facing disruptions to their education.

Fighting between the military regime and the Arakan Army is intensifying in Kyaukphyu Township, leading to a continued rise in displacement.

Due to insecurity, including strict security measures, arrests and threats from junta troops, many residents of Kyaukphyu are fleeing to areas under the control of the Arakan Army.