ULA focuses on helping IDPs in southern Arakan State

By Admin 04 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom

4 September 2025, Thandwe

The Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) under the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) announced that it is working to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people in southern Arakan State.

The ULA announced on September 2 that it provided 1,164 bags of rice to 70,499 internally displaced people (IDPs) from 2,188 households in need of emergency food assistance in Thandwe Township in July and August.

According to HDCO data, there were 2,345 displaced households in Thandwe Township in June, with an IDP population of 8,098, and HDCO is working to continue providing assistance to displaced people from other townships who have not yet received assistance.

The HDCO has stated that the IDPs in southern Arakan State have very limited access to humanitarian assistance, and that urgent assistance must be provided.

"The displaced people in Ann are not getting enough assistance and their living conditions are not good," said an aid worker in Ann Township. "There are families who don't even have rice to eat." He continued that the displaced people are still unable to return home, and their livelihoods are becoming increasingly precarious due to the lack of jobs and limited access to assistance.

Thousands of displaced people in Ann Township, most of whom live in remote areas with difficult access to transportation networks, face limited access to aid and health problems.

Social workers point out that there are few social assistance organisations in southern Arakan State and that access to assistance is limited.

"There are fewer humanitarian organisations in southern Arakan State because there are fewer wars and conflicts. As a result, the displaced people in southern Arakan State receive less assistance," said an aid worker.

"One reason for the limited access to aid for displaced people in southern Arakan State is the lack of communication networks," he added. "Northern Arakan State has access to a limited amount of internet, which allows it to connect with international organisations and other humanitarian organisations in other regions. As a result, displaced people in northern Arakan State have received more assistance."

The HDCO statement said humanitarian organisations need to focus on providing emergency assistance to displaced people in townships with high needs and low access to assistance.

There are about 600,000 IDPs in Arakan State who have not yet returned to their homes, and the displaced are facing food shortages and the threat of airstrikes by the military regime.