Urgently needed food, medicines for displaced Rakhine people

There are nearly 50,000 people, who fled their villages in Rakhine State, in desperate need of food and emergency medicines.

At present, the Burmese soldiers have been firing small & heavy weapons over the populated towns and villages. The residents are now fleeing to safer places.

More than 20,000 people from Pauk Taw township, 20,000 from Min Bya and many others from  Kyauk Taw, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Ponna Kyunt and Ann fled from their places.

A social activist said that the people are fleeing from every town in northern Rakhine State. They are especially moving to rural areas as the Burmese army personnel are shelling with heavy weapons continuously.

Where there is a battle going the soldiers have been firing, but in some places even without any conflict, they continue firing over the residential areas.

A Min Bya resident revealed that most of the residents in his neighbourhood have left following the firings in  night hours too.

A Phlong Pyin villager informed  Narinjara News that there is a shortage of food and medicines in their areas as the soldiers have closed all the roads.

"People from both the city and villages are fleeing. As the roads are closed, we are facing  scarcity of medicines in local pharmacies. Most of the shops are also closed now,” he added.

A woman who fled from Rathedaung revealed that there are not many people in her  town now. She is not feeling well and hence finds it difficult to get medicines on time.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported on 17 November that 26,000 people have been displaced lately in Rakhine State, out of which 19,000 are reported in Pauk Taw township alone.

After 17 November, the junta forces continued  firing heavy shells over Minbya, Rathedaung, Kyauk Taw, and Ponna Kyunt townhsips.

Since the gunfighting resumed on 13 November, at least 16 people were killed in Rakhine State were  100 have been arrested. Currently, the Arakan Army (AA) members and junta forces have been fighting in various places, where the AA have occupied  40 military bases till date.