Narinjara News, 7September 2022

No less than 9600 people have been displaced because of theongoing military conflicts between the Burmese forces and Arakan Armymembers in various parts of Rakhine and Paletwa township of Chin State,said the UN.

Asof 5 September, these people have fled their places andit has finally increased the total number of internallydisplaced people (IDPs) up to 84,000, stated in UN figures.

The UNOCHA reporttitled Escalation of Conflicts in Rakhine and southern Chin State wasreleased on Tuesday and necessary concern was expressed on the risingtensions between the two armed forces since June where even heavy weapons andairstrikes are also used.

The new conflict emerged after a temporary ceasefirebetween the AA and military council,which had been in place since November 2020, had collapsed.

Mostof the fighting incidents took place in the townships ofMaungdaw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Mrauk-U (of Rakhine State) andPaletwa township of Chin State.

The government forces have blocked various key roads and waterways to those localities preventing the movement of the civiliansand even the humanitarian support, which is otherwise very muchneeded.

Nowthe local and international partners have been providingemergency assistance to the affected families where the accessis permitted by the military council. But unfortunately many familiesremain unreachable to the authorities till now.

Financialsupport becomes the need of the hour for those families who are in need offood items, water and sanitation services, shelter and healthcarefacilities. The UN report also emphasized on re-positioning of stocksbefore the escalation of clashes in the various localities.

(Photo: Many villagers in Rathedaung Township left their homes during the fierce fighting between AA and Junta forces on 31st August 2022. The photo was taken by Ashin Thabawa Nadi.)