As winter approaches, Rakhine refugees urgently need blankets, warm clothes

A large volume of blankets,  warm clothes, mats and mosquito nets are needed in various Arakan refugee camps as the winter has approached in the Rakhine region. The IDPs pointed out that many of their belongings were damaged by cyclone Mocha that hit Rakhine State on 14 May last.

Daw San Nwe, who lives in Nyung Chaung camp of  Kyauk Taw township, said that the refugees are going to face difficult time in the coming cold winter days as they have no enough blanket and warm clothes, where the children and elderly people suffer the most.

"We also need more warm clothes. Moreover, mosquito nets are also in need. The children and elderly people are the main sufferers in the winter,” she added.

The camp was established in 2017, where nearly  3,000 people (700 households) from 20 villages are taking shelter. They mostly came from Kyauk Taw and Paletwa township (of Chin State) during the days of gun fighting between the junta forces and Arakan Army members.

A refugee from the train station camp in  Kyauk Taw township also stated that they too need blankets and other warm clothes. He also added that they are in need of adequate number of food items as well.
There are 939 people (236 households) in the camp.

U Lin Naing, in-charge of Let Kauk Zee camp in Mrauk U township informed that the refugees are in desperate need of winter garments.

“When their food items are not ensured, how they can afford warm clothes.  We want NGOs and international organizations including the UN,  WFP etc to help these people,” he added.

The camp was established in 2019 and there are 630 people (159 households) coming from seven villages under various Rakhine townships taking shelter.

U Kyaw Tun Naing, manager of Dhammayadana IDP camp in Rathedaung township (which is 20 miles north of  Sittwe), informed that they received only Kyats 33,000 per person per month for food from the World Food Program. The amount is  not enough for the refugees to buy
warm clothes.

"As everything was destroyed by the storm, we need many blankets, mosquito nets and warm clothes,” he added.

The refugee camp was established in  2019,  where  587 people (181 households) coming from seven villages are taking shelter.

The Rakhine refugees are getting only a monthly allowance from the WFP and  no other organization is coming forward to support them. Even the military council has not extended necessary support.

Since 2018, there were more than 200,000 people, displaced from different villages following the junta forces- AA members conflicts, in various refugee camps. Many have returned to their places, but
around 60,000 are still in camps, who are yet to be convinced to go back because of various reasons including the security.