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- May 28, 2024
Over 500 refugees sent back by the military council without
clearing landmines
Narinjara News, 3 March 2023
At least 532 refugees from Yephyukan IDP camp in Ponna Kyunt township of Rakhine State were forcibly sent
back to their villages this morning.
Rakhine Prime Minister and his team promised to clear the
landmines near their
villages before repatriation, but those areas are yet be cleared of landmines.
"During the battle (between junta forces and Arakan Army members) in our area, we heard about many
casualties in various forest areas because
of landmine explosions, which were planted by the military personnel. We were now afraid of such
blasts but we have been forced to
leave the camp,” said a refugee.
Junta authorities provided Kyats 600,000 per household and one month’s rice grains to the camp which gave
shelter to 140 families.
The people taking shelter in the IDP camp did not receive monthly support and the committed volume of
rice grains had not been received for
a long time. Thus they were facing food scarcity too.
An responsible official informed that many of them used to work outside the camp but now they have been
compelled to return due to the food
crisis.
"Till now, there is no initiative to clear landmines in
rural areas. Moreover the damaged
houses have not been rebuilt. We were reluctant to return home immediately, but the authorities had
forced us to do so” said a
refugee.
The military council escorted the refugees while returning back to their villages in private cars.
Rakhine State chief minister U Htin Lin and his officials visited theYephyukan
IDP camp on 3 March where the refugees raised the issue of landmines.
The chief minister promised to clear the mines, but did not mention when
it would be done.
The refugees also claimed that Kyats 6,000,000, offered by the military
council, was not enough for rebuilding their damaged houses.
The refugees have left for their villages including Tha Si, Kyauk Sike, Panae
Taw and Dodan under Ponna Kyunt township and also Namadar village under Paletwa
township of Chin State.
Days back, Rakhine State stability and development coordination committee chairman
lieutenant general Tun Tun Naung, Union social welfare relief and
resettlement minister Daw Thant Khaing and Rakhine CM Htin Lin visited several
camps in Kyauk Taw, Mrauk U and Minbya
townships and urged the refugees to return home before the rainy days begin.
Later in February, some refugees in Minbya Township were
forced to return home without clearing the landmines in their localities.
Photo caption- Brahmin Island war refugees returning home on 3 March