- Web Master
- August 31, 2024
Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 1 September 2024
Nippon Foundation is planning to provide food aid to the internally displaced
persons (IDPs) from Arakan State who are taking shelter in the Yangon region
due to the fighting in their places. Arakan National Network (ANN) is currently
compiling a list of those individuals from six townships.
ANN chairman Ko Tin Htoo Aung informed Narinjara News that they are
working with the Nippon Foundation in Yangon to provide rice and edible oil
items to Arakanese IDPs who are facing difficulties to survive in the former
capital of Myanmar.
“Those who have fled the conflict in rural areas and
now facing a livelihood crisis will be given a priority. We will focus on
people in the outskirts of Yangon, rather than those in the downtown area,”
added the chairman.
Now the ANN is compiling a list of poor and unemployed
Arakanese IDPs who came to Yangon since the third week of August this year.
They are now starting to gather the names of beneficiaries from Hmawbi, Shwe
Pyi Thar, East Dagon, South Dagon, North Dagon and North Okkalapa townships.
Ko Tin Htoo Aung revealed that nearly 1,500 impoverished IDPs from the
Arakan region are being counted.
“More IDPs are arriving from Arakan now. Initially, they came from northern
Arakan, but in the last few weeks many from southern Arakanese townships like
Taungup, Thandwe, Ngapali and Gwa have also arrived in Yangon. In addition to
the Nippon Foundation, we are also working with other groups to support the
needy Arakanese nationals,” he added.
In the first batch, they will support around 1,500 IDPs from six Arakanese
townships. The timing of donations will depend on the donor organization.
Nippon Foundation, based in Japan, donated a large
volume of rice bags to IDPs in Arakan State in 2023.
Its chairman Mr Sasakawa played a key role in mediating between the Arakan Army
(AA) and the junta forces to halt the fighting in Arakan between 2018 and 2022.
An displaced Arakanese woman from Shwe Pyi Thar told Narinjara News that she
would be grateful to Nippon Foundation for the support as they are facing
a severe livelihood crisis.
“Due to the fighting, we had to leave our places
urgently and thus we lost all our belongings. We are now living in rented
houses or staying with their relatives. We have no job and the prices of
essential commodities are going up every day,” added the lady.
Since the gun fighting resumed in Arakan State in
November 2023, local residents started fleeing to safer townships.
As the fighting approached Thandwe and Gwa
townships, many residents fled to Yangon and Ayeyarwady localities.
The Arakanese IDPs in Yangon are struggling to survive
due to high rents, rising food costs, poor living conditions and lack of
employment opportunities.
Photograph: Displaced people affected by the fighting between Myanmar military
and Arakan Army in Pauktaw township of Arakan State. (Photo by VOA,
November 19, 2023)