NarinjaraNews, 23 March 2023

Over 600 IDPs are forced to return home after theshutdown of three IDP camps in Kyauktaw Township in Arakan State, theInternally Displaced People (IDPs) said.

These three IDP camps are Mahamuni, Shanywar and TheinkyaungIDP camps in Kyauktaw Township.

On 21 March, the officials held a meeting at the townshipadministration office on the complete shutdown of three IDP camps and therepatriation of refugees by 31 March.

“Yesterday, a meeting was held at Kyauktaw TownshipAdministration Office to shut down the IDP camps and to force the IDPs toreturn home. The officials told the IDPs from three IDP camps about it,” an IDPsaid.

A total of 426 of 443 households from Mahamuni IDP camp willreturn home. The remaining 17 households will move to Nyaungchaung IDP campnear the Mahamuni IDP camp.

Nine of 26 households from Theinkyaung IDP camp will returnhome. The remaining households continue to stay in Theinpyinkyaung IDP campnear the Theinkyaung IDP camp.

A total of 43 households from Shanywar IDP camp will returnhome.

Over 1,170 IDPs from ten IDP camps in Kyauktaw haveregistered to return home. However, only 644 IDPs can go home as the budgetallotted this year is not sufficient,” said a member of the military councilfrom Kyauktaw.

The military council told the IDPs that a household whichwants to return home will be provided with MMK-600,000 and three-month rations.

“I worry about the renewed fighting and our livelihood. I amnot ready to return home. However, I will return home. Authorities frequentlyask the IDPs to go home,” an IDP from Mahamuni IDP camp.

In January and February, the military council’s unionministers visited the IDP camps in Arakan State and pressured them to returnhome.

Then, the military council closed some IDP camps inMyaebone, Minbya, MraukU and Ponnagyun Townships and forcibly repatriated them.

After the forced repatriation, the military council has notcarried out the clearance of war remnants and landmines near the villages.

Junta soldiers remain stationed near the villages.

So the IDPs who returned home are facing livelihooddifficulties as they cannot earn their living freely.

The Narinjara phoned U Hla Thein, Spokesperson of the ArakanState Administration Council several times to seek the comments about thesituation of IDPs. But no reply is received.

Over 200,000 locals were displaced by the battles betweenthe military council and the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State in 2018, 2019,2020 and 2022.