Thinzar Nwe, 29 October 2024

As winter nears in Arakan State, countlessdisplaced people desperately need warm clothes and blankets.

"It's already cold, even though winterjust started. Most displaced folks don't have warm clothes, and there aren'tenough blankets. Some displaced kids are getting sick because they don't haveblankets. If they don't get blankets and warm clothes soon, they might getreally sick as it gets colder. The grown-ups are cold too, but they've giventhe thin blankets they brought to their kids, leaving themselves withnothing," said a woman who fled from Ga Nan Taung village in PonnagyunTownship.

Displaced people across Arakan State, includingthose in Ponnagyun Township, are struggling to make ends meet and can't buyblankets and warm clothes. 

Right now, a blanket in Arakan State costsabout 35,000 Kyats, which is too much for displaced people and day laborers toafford.

"Winter came in mid-October, and manyfamilies don't have enough warm clothes or blankets. I'm asking everyone tofocus on giving blankets and warm clothes right now," she added.

A young helper from the Phyu Sin Yin KhwinFoundation in Ponnagyun Town told Arakan News Network that displaced peopleliving without shelter in villages are having a really hard time without warmclothes and blankets.

"There are displaced people in almost every village.Now that it's winter, we want to give warm clothes and blankets to those whoneed them. We're asking for help from donors because tens of thousands ofdisplaced people need these things. Some are having trouble with the cold, andwe need to get ready now to protect them from the harsh weather," he said.

He also said that there are over 7,000displaced people in Ponnagyun Township, and about 65 percent of them need warmclothes and blankets. 

People seeking safety in Ponnagyun Townshipinclude those from Sittwe, Pauktaw, Rathedaung, and Ponnagyun townships.

Helper U Wai Hin Aung posted on social mediathat he plans to give 2,000 blankets to displaced people now that the coldwinter has started in Arakan State.

----