Junta’s promise to provide loans to Mocha affected families vanishes in thin air

The military council once promised to provide loans to individuals owning fisheries and livestock industries facing  damages due to cyclone Mocha that  hit Rakhine State on 14 May, but those are seemingly lost in the air with no realization, allege Arakan businessmen.

They also stated that the storm had damaged agricultural and farming activities as well.

A shrimp farmer from Pauk Taw township informed that the junta authorities collected the list of damaged industries a month ago for offering loans to them.

“But nothing happening on the ground. They only said that high level officials were still busy. It is not known to them, when they will get the loans,” he added.

He personally expects a loan to revive his business after the Mocha affected his fisheries and livestock industries.

On 20 June, during a meeting between  Rakhine State Prime Minister and Rakhine fisheries & livestock entrepreneurs in Sittwe, the deputy PM general Tin Aung San promised  loans to the affected entrepreneurs.

However, even after three months, they have not received any  loan.

A local monk from Rathedaung township said that if the government provides the loan it would help the entrepreneurs as they  are struggling for rehabilitation.

"Half of the Rakhine villagers today depend on the fishing industry. Their livelihood was destroyed by the cyclonic storm. It becomes difficult for the villagers to buy new boats and finally to survive. They can recover their business only after getting loans,” he added.

U Aung Tin Saw, deputy commander of Rakhine State fisheries department informed Narinjara News that the issue of offering loans to the villagers is not yet materialized.

"We are even not sure about it. I heard that the proposal for loans was submitted to the Rakhine government. But  I can not reveal anything about the  loan,” he added.