Narinjara News, 26 December  2020

A cargo boat carrying relief-items of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the conflict ridden eight villages under Rathedaung township in Rakhine State was no allowed to move by the navy personnel stationed over Mayu river.

Later the boat returned back to Sittwe, informed village leaders.

Owepauk village administrator disclosed that the ICRC aids carrying boat was prohibited in moving ahead by the navy personnel.

“I got the information from local ICRC staff that the relief-items would reach the  village tract on 23 December but it did not turn out. I heard that a naval vessel near Rathedaung did not allow its further movement,” added the administrator.

The supplies were meant for the area where both Rakhine Buddhist and Muslim people live. Two months back, a cargo boat carrying ICRC aids faced an attack there where the boat caught fire killing one person and injuring two others.

The relief-items were meant for eight villages where the residents were suffering from food shortages since 2018. The selected villages include  Owepauk, Ywar Thit (new village) & Ywar Haung (old village), Kan Site, Akar Daung, Rakkhu Dai, Sin Khone Daing and Lun Taung in
northern Rathedaung  localities.

Daw Khin Saw Wai, a Pyithu Hluttaw (People's Assembly) member from Rathedaung  township, said that she came to know about the prohibitions from the warship on Mayu river. So the cargo boat had returned to Sittwe, she added.

The machine boat was approved by Col Min Than, the border Afair and securirty minister of Rakhine state. It had also the recommendation letters from the higher authorities. It appears a matter of surprisingwhy it was not permitted to move.

Colonel Min Than, Rakhine State minister for security & border affairs, was not available for comments. The ICRC Sittwe office wasalso not reachable for inputs  and they have not revealed anything over the matter.

On 28  October last, a boatman was killed when the ICRC items ferrying vessel  was attacked by armed members  injuring two others. The victim was identified as 20-year-old Maung Chay where the injured individuals were Maung Than Wai (34) and Hla Win Maung (50).

(Photo by ICRC)