Local residents and civil society organizations reportthat many relief goods intended for internally displace people (IDPs) are beingsold in markets in Arakan (Rakhine) State.

Relief items commonly seen in the markets include sanitarynapkins, rice, towels, and tarpaulins, said a young woman from Sittwe, thestate capital.

“Sanitary napkins can always be found in Sittwe market.While the normal price is 1,000 kyats, they are sold there for only about 800kyats,” she said.

In addition, stationery items such as books and pencils withthe United Nations International Children’sEmergency Fund (UNICEF) stamp and items with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stamp such as towels and tarpaulins are alsoopenly sold, according to locals in Sittwe and markets in other townships.

An unnamed administrator said that relief goods are alsoavailable in markets in after Cyclone Mocha hit the state.

“The rice has ended up in the market because the relevantorganizations and authorities haven’t coveredtransportation costs and fees for the relief supplies,” he said.

A woman in charge of an IDP camp in Buthidaung Townshipclaimed that the sanitary napkins provided are being resold partly because thedisplaced families are facing livelihood problems.

“There are two sides to this. Some providers didn’tdistribute the sanitary napkins based on the number of women, but simply fromhouse to house. Houses without young girls got extra pads. So they sell themcheaply, while some families sell them because they are facing livelihoodproblems,” she said.

Civil society groups have pointed out that authoritiesshould monitor such cases and control the aid supplies reaching the markets.

“This shouldn’t happen. We have seen these things in themarkets over and over again. Relevant organizations should investigate on theground. Some items have gone directly to the market without reaching theintended recipients. This is unacceptable,” said a woman from a civil societygroup.

Narinjara was still trying to reach UNHCR and other aidgroups on the matter.

Around 70,000 people are still displaced in Arakan Stateafter fighting flared up between the Myanmar army and the Arakan Army (AA) in2018.

Hundreds of thousands of people are also still displaced intownships such as Sittwe, Myebon and Kyaukphyu, according to IDP records,following inter-communal violence in the state in 2012.

The displaced say they no longer receive governmentassistance and now rely on international groups.