Narinjara News, 29 March 2023

Over 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), who have returned to their places under Paletwa township ofChin State, are currently facingfood crisis as they are deprived of any assistance from donor organizations as well as the militarycouncil, said the affected families.

A returnee villager from Seintsanwa revealed that they ranout of the food stuff. They arealso concerned about the danger of landmines, because of which they can not move freely to sustaining their livelihood.

"Ever since we have returned, we are facingdifficulties to survive. We areafraid of the landmines in forest areas where we can not go to collect food items and fire wood. So weare going to inform the townshipgeneral administrative office about our difficulties,” he added.

The refugees from Paletwa locality comprise around 300households from 19 villagesincluding Lower Meelatwa, Baungwa, NgaWe, InnKhowa, Tamanthar, Sephalaung, Paletchaungwa, Lower Theamawa andSeintsanwa.

"We have no work at this moment. It’s not the time of farmingeither. But we are afraid of goingto the mountain for the landmines,” said aLower Meelatwa villager.

The refugees returned home in November 2022 and January this year after repeated pursuations by themilitary council to do so.

The military officials explain that the areas under Paletwatownship are presently stable andhence they forced the IDPs to return to their vilages after offering Kyats 3 to 6 million per household.

The township currently houses around 5,000 IDPs in variouscamps like Withudhayone monastery,Baw Lone Kwin, Site Pyo Yay, RC Church andBEHS (1). The villagers left their places due to fear of accidents caused by the landmines and remnants ofmilitary weapons near the forestareas.

In Rakhine State, IDPs from townships including Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Minbya and Ann were forced toreturn to their villages in recentweeks by the military council officials. They are also reportedly facing difficulties insurviving with no proper houses and foodstocks.

Despite a ceasefire between the military council and ArakanArmy in Rakhine State and Paletwatownship of Chin State that was materialized four months back over 60,000 IDPs are yet to return home.However, some IDPs have alreadyreturned to their places, said a recent report by the Uinted Nations.