It is reported that the SAChas re-authorized limited humanitarian aid in Rakhine.
It was announced on Jan. 13 that UNHCR and its partner organizations areresuming humanitarian aid operations in Rakhine State (northern) this week.
“Now we have access to the towns and fooddistribution. We are not allowed to travel to rural areas. It is limited. Theysay that they are not confident about security,” an INGO employee fromButhidaung township told MPA.”After a temporary suspension of distributionactivities since Sep. 2022, on Jan. 10, emergencyrelief distribution activities were resumed to communities affected by theconflict,” it said.
“Now we are getting a little bit of aid. It’s fromforeign organizations. There are some items,” an IDP of Lann Ma Kyaung IDPcamp from Buthidaung told the MPA.In mid-September 2022, when the Arakan Army (AA) and the SAC werefighting fiercely in Rakhine, the coup SAC banned humanitarian aid organizations to eight townships from Rakhine.
Because of such restrictions, hundreds of thousands of IDPs, including Rohingya refugees, have faced hardships such as food and health. On Nov. 26, between the Arakan Army and the SAC Military, a temporary cease-fire was agreed upon with the understanding of both sides, claiming to be a humanitarian and aid ceasefire.
UNOCHA announced this month that the number of internally displaced people has reached more than 16,000 due to the resurgent fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the SAC in Palatwa Township, Chin State, and Rakhine State, and the number of internally displaced people due to previous and current conflicts has reached more than 89,000.
Photo – UNHCR (Caption – While a group of INGOs is distributing food in anIDP camp in Buthidaung town these days)