10 October 2024
The Voice of Arakan
The IDP population increased to over 100 thousand in Ponnagyun township, it became a general crisis with food, health and education apparently native residents.
“We have to live in a monastery. We can get food but it is not safe and secure for bath places and latrine. It is difficult to find medicine, we have to pay a higher price for medicine. Sometimes we can’t buy some medicine even if we have enough money in hand. No pregnant women get vaccines, giving birth without a midwife, no vaccines for infants. Infants and children are able to infect diseases easily.” said an IDP woman from Ponnagyun town anonymously.
A leader of a civil organization for indigenous ethnic people explained that IDPs were taking shelters in Ponnagyun rural areas since 2019 fighting, they could not go back to resettle in their original villages as the fighting was going on. They have very difficulties for food, shelter, clothes and health
“Increasing IDP by clashes and fighting in this area, we have to send the earlier IDP to their places back to give shelters for newly IDPs. But no one dared to go back. Some IDPs go back to their home village, but they come back to find a job. They have not enough food”, he said.
Activists supporting IDPs in Ponnagyun said livelihood of IDPs is very difficult for food, for health care, and for education.
“We all are in a crisis. WE collect assistance for food, health care and education, but we could not get enough support. We found some IDP children requesting food and money in bazaars, we regret to see it. It would be understood how difficult it is to live. We support their education with volunteer teachers as we see no opportunity for school, the big challenge is to get education materials with higher prices. It needs more and more support or assistance.” Said by an executive member of the Linn Yaung Chi Foundation, Ponnagyun.
IDPs in Ponnagyun are local people to hide air attack by Myanmar military after 2023 fighting, fled their villages and home from Sittwe downtown and township areas, and early IDP since 2019 fighting.
The Myanmar military launches air strikes frequently in the several towns where they lost control. Local IDPs were staying with fear.
